By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
Fresh violence has erupted in Plateau State, leaving three farmers dead and another injured in separate attacks on Larkas and Kodahas communities in Panyam District, Mangu Local Government Area.
The National President of the Mwaghavul Development Association (MDA), Bulus Dabit, confirmed the killings on Tuesday, identifying the victims as Gideon Jise (41), Fidelis Usman (49), and Job Amis (28). He said they were working on their farms when gunmen opened fire between Monday and Tuesday morning.
According to Dabit, the attackers later invaded Jwak village, rustling eight cattle belonging to members of the community.
He explained that the violence began after suspected rustlers attacked herders near Panyam fish farm on Monday. Youths from the Mwaghavul community reportedly confronted the rustlers, recovered 16 stolen cattle, and handed them to security operatives.
“Instead of appreciating the efforts of our youths for recovering the cattle, suspected herders from the Jenarate community trailed them and attacked, killing three of our members and injuring one,” Dabit alleged, condemning the attack as “barbaric.”
But Abubakar Gambo, Chairman of the Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria (GAFDAN) in Mangu, denied the accusations, insisting his members were not involved.
“We are not aware of the attack, and we are not a party to it. Our cattle were rustled on Monday, and we reported to security agencies. They should be allowed to investigate,” Gambo said.
Dabit, however, commended personnel of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) in Mangu for arresting suspects linked to cattle rustling. He warned that the crime was undermining peace efforts in Plateau State and called for additional security outposts in Larkas and Jwak to prevent further bloodshed.
At the time of filing this report, the spokesman of Operation Enduring Peace, Major Samson Zhakom, had yet to respond to calls and messages seeking clarification.