Rising attacks on herders by Plateau Militia deepen fear of reprisals as 168 cattle rustled in coordinated assaults

By: Zagazola Makama

A renewed wave of attacks targeting herders in Plateau State has revived fears of another cycle of reprisals in a region long strained by ethno-religious tensions. On Wednesday evening, gunmen struck in Barkin Ladi and Jos East local government areas, rustling 168 cattle in coordinated assaults that left pastoral communities anxious and aggrieved.

According to the Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in the state, Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, the first incident occurred around Nding community in Fan District of Barkin Ladi LGA, where 137 cattle were rustled.

A second attack followed in Kukukah community of Jos East LGA, where 34 cattle were driven away, although three later returned home.

The stolen cattle belonged to three herders: Alhaji Wada Sale, Abdullahi Yusuf and Alhaji Talba Abubakar. Babayo explained that he immediately contacted heads of security agencies, including the DSS, Operation Enduring Peace and other formations, as soon as information about the attack reached him.
Yet, less than 24 hours later, another disturbing incident was reported.

Nine cows died instantly after allegedly consuming poisonous substances around Kwi village in Riyom LGA.
The poisoning, reportedly deliberate, has intensified concerns among stakeholders who fear the region may slide deeper into retaliatory violence if urgent steps are not taken.

For months, conflict analyst and security expert, Zagazola Makama has consistently warned of a growing pattern of targeted attacks on herders in Plateau, often carried out in remote areas where response times are slow. investigations have shown how cattle rustling, ambushes and poisoning of livestock have, over the years, triggered violent reprisals that leave communities shattered. These early signs, if ignored, frequently escalate into full-blown crises.

This pattern is well-known. When attackers strike herders and rustle cattle, reprisals often follow in farming communities. That is how Plateau has remained trapped in a cycle of violence.

Despite repeated alerts from MACBAN, community leaders and reporters, many believe the Plateau State Government has not taken firm steps to confront the trend. Many worry that the state’s silence is widening the cracks in an already fragile landscape. Failure to prosecute perpetrators or strengthen preventive mechanisms has emboldened criminal actors who exploit the region’s fragile inter-communal relations.

Across Barkin Ladi, Jos East and Riyom, tension remains high. Pastoral families who lost cattle say the attacks threaten their livelihoods, while farmers fear the possibility of retaliatory violence. Zagazola warned that without intervention, extremism and bitterness could grow. Thursday’s poisoning of cows in Riyom an act seen as both provocative and dangerous has added another layer of anxiety.

As Plateau State enters the festive season, we hope that authorities will break the cycle of complacency and confront what many describe as a predictable and preventable chain of violence.

If not, the state risks yet another round of reprisals that could deepen long-standing divisions and further endanger rural communities.

Rising attacks on herders by Plateau Militia deepen fear of reprisals as 168 cattle rustled in coordinated assaults

Integrated campaign to boost health of 1m children, women in Gombe

The Gombe State government in collaboration with the Federal Government and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has inaugurated the National Immunisation Plus Days campaign in the state.

The integrated campaign is targeting 1, 046, 553 beneficiaries, comprising 832, 427 children for vaccination against polio and 214,126 pregnant women to be provided multiple micronutrient supplements.

Mr Manassah Jatau, the state’s Deputy Governor while inaugurating the campaign on Friday in Swa community in Balanga LGA of Gombe State said the event also marked the launch of the Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW).

Jatau who was represented by Dr Ahmed Kashere, Chairman of the Governing Council of the Gombe State Primary HealthCare Development Agency described the campaign as crucial towards protecting the health of children and expectant mothers.

He said that the integrated campaign would ensure that children were protected from diseases that threaten their lives.

“This campaign targets 832,427 eligible children and pregnant mothers across 11 LGAs, focusing on polio vaccination for children under five.

“It will ensure vitamin A supplementation for 770,852 children aged 6-59 months, to boost their immune system and prevent night blindness

“Deworming for children aged 12-59 months, to improve their nutritional status and reduce the burden of worm infestation would also be part of the campaign.

“During the exercise, malnutrition screening for children aged 6-59 months, to identify and manage malnutrition early would be carried out.

“Multiple micronutrient supplements would be provided for 214,126 pregnant women, to ensure they have the necessary nutrients for a healthy pregnancy,” he said.

According to him, Sulphadoxine pyrimethamine will be provided for pregnant women, to prevent malaria and its complications.

Jatau stated that the campaign would also feature health education on key household practices, to empower communities across the state with knowledge on healthy living.

He urged all stakeholders, community members, and well-meaning individuals to support the campaign, towards protecting children, pregnant women, while promoting healthy practices in communities.

The deputy governor commended development partners for their continued support and commitment to improving health outcomes in the state while also appreciating community leaders and health workers for their contributions.

Mr Haruna Gambo, the Zonal Technical Officer, National Primary HealthCare Development Agency restated the commitment of the Federal Government to the wellbeing of children and mothers across the state and country.

Gambo said that the collaborative approach through the integrated campaign would strengthen the immunisation system towards improving the health of communities.

In her remarks, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, Chief UNICEF Bauchi Field Office said that the earlier campaign in the year recorded remarkable success, reaching thousands of children.

Rafique said that the success of the earlier campaign demonstrated what is possible when governments, communities, health workers, and partners unite behind a common goal.

She stated that immunisation remained one of the most powerful tools to protecting children from life-threatening, yet entirely preventable, diseases.

“In Gombe State, the immunisation campaign is being integrated with the MNCHW to ensure that more children and mothers are reached with essential health services.

“As part of our support, UNICEF has provided over 20,000 bottles of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) for pregnant women.

“We have also provided over 700,000 doses of Vitamin A to boost the immunity of children and keep them healthy,” she said.

While thanking all donors and governments at all levels, Rafique called on parents, caregivers, community leaders, and partners across all sectors to “help ensure that no child is missed.”

Mothers who came out en masse with their children told our Correspondent that they were appreciative of the government and development partners’ efforts at offering them free vaccines and supplements.

According to them, mothers and their children in their community no longer fall ill as they used to since they embraced health initiatives from the government and donor partners.

Integrated campaign to boost health of 1m children, women in Gombe

Alaafin Assures NDLEA of Support, Collaboration in Fight Against Illicit Drugs

By: Michael Mike

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade has assured the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) of support and collaboration in his renewed mandate to curb the scourge of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the country.

The revered traditional ruler gave the assurance when he led two other royal fathers: Oloro of Oro, Oba Joel Olaniyan Olatoye and Olusin of Ijara Isin, Oba Ademola Julius Ajibola, on a courtesy visit to Marwa at the agency’s national headquarters in Abuja on Friday.

He said he is proud of Marwa’s trajectory as Atunluse of Yoruba land.

According to him, “to be kind with you, we are proud of you. Your being in this position at the moment is not just by chance, it’s because of your devotion, your commitment. You have this amiable character. That’s why you are able to govern Borno and Lagos States, and you have always been a performer. Another thing which I can’t forget about you is the legacy of Keke Marwa that you brought to Nigeria.”

Responding directly to the appeal by the NDLEA boss to traditional rulers to support ongoing efforts against drug abuse in the country, the Alaafin assured of his readiness to mobilise his colleagues to work with the agency.

He said: “I’ve heard your message and the same thing with some of my colleagues here and some of my other traditional rulers, we are ready to collaborate with you. I have to tell you, we are at the grassroots, we are close to the community people. We know a lot about what’s going on. So, I’m using this opportunity to tell you that we are ready. We are more than ready to work with you and to give you all the necessary support to make sure that you are successful in this job. We can tell you that anytime you are in need of us, we will always be there for you.”

In his welcome remark, Marwa congratulated the Alaafin for ascending the throne of his forefathers. He charged him and other traditional rulers across the country to leverage on their influence at the local level to work with NDLEA to stamp out substance abuse in communities.

Marwa said: “The drug scourge in Nigeria is at an unacceptable limit and from the drug use survey report of 2018, we find that close to 15 million Nigerians aged 15 to 64 use drugs. It’s a big problem and we have been mandated by President Tinubu, to stand up, fight the drug scourge, arrest those responsible, prosecute them and seize their assets, the traffickers. And on this assignment, we would like to call on the traditional institutions because it’s a very, very important institution.

“Nigerians respect the traditional institutions. Whoever you are in Nigeria, you still come from somewhere. And when you go back to that place, you pay homage to whoever is the leader of the community. And so when the traditional leader speaks, it carries weight. And equally we plead for traditional leaders to also engage the religious leaders in charge of churches and mosques in their domains, they should do serious advocacy against the use of drugs. The NDLEA is always prepared to work with the traditional institution.”

He said the agency will also appreciate getting information about drug dealers in local communities from traditional rulers because of the risk they pose to many youths and their families. “We really appreciate this collaboration and I know for a fact that if we are able to control drug use, even the criminalities will come down because all the people that are kidnappers and the insurgents, terrorists, bandits everywhere, they use drugs first to charge themselves up, to make them high.”

He expressed appreciation to Alaafin for the visit and wished him long successful reign in

good health, peace, development and prosperity in the entire Oyo Kingdom.

Alaafin Assures NDLEA of Support, Collaboration in Fight Against Illicit Drugs