MACBAN Blames Injustice, Weak Law Enforcement for Plateau Violence, Urges Dialogue and Justice

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has stated that the ongoing attacks and killings in Plateau State, often attributed to Fulani militias, will persist as long as herders continue to suffer injustices.

Speaking on Wednesday after the association’s National Executive Council meeting in Abuja, MACBAN’s National Secretary, Mallam Bello Gotomo, cited climate-induced migration, the proliferation of weapons, weak law enforcement, and systemic injustice as the primary drivers of the recurring violence.

Gotomo alleged that Fulani herders are frequently attacked, killed, and have their cattle rustled by local communities, with little to no response from security agencies. According to him, such neglect often compels the herders to seek revenge by targeting the communities responsible. He emphasized that the Fulani are traditionally peace-loving people who coexisted harmoniously with Plateau natives until criminal activities, such as cattle theft and killings, disrupted the peace.

He condemned the ongoing killings across the state and urged all parties to embrace dialogue to achieve lasting peace. Gotomo further called on both the federal and state governments to ensure justice for Fulani victims if the cycle of violence is to end.