Miyetti Allah Accuses Ron Community of Cattle Killings in Plateau; Ron Leaders Deny Allegations

The Plateau State chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has claimed that 18 of its members' cows were shot dead, while 130 others were rustled within a week in the Howl community, Bokkos Local Government Area.

In a statement released Monday, MACBAN State Chairman Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo alleged that the incidents occurred on Wednesday, July 30, and that the whereabouts of the stolen cattle remain unknown.

“Since Wednesday, July 30, we have been searching for the whereabouts of the cattle. The gunmen rustled 130 cattle and killed 18 others,” Babayo said.

Babayo went further to accuse the Ron ethnic group, who make up the majority in Bokkos LGA, of being behind the livestock killings and thefts. He claimed the group’s actions are part of a broader pattern of hostility toward Fulani herders in the region.

MACBAN also expressed frustration with what it described as security agencies’ lack of responsiveness, stating that despite notifying authorities, no tangible action has been taken to investigate or retrieve the cattle.

In a swift rebuttal, Barr. John Apollos Maton, Secretary of the Ron Kulere Jos and Environs, categorically denied the allegations.

“These accusations are nothing but a pretext for genocide,” Maton stated, describing the claims as deliberate misinformation aimed at justifying future attacks on Ron communities.

He urged security and intelligence agencies to remain vigilant, warning that such inflammatory statements from MACBAN often precede violence.

“This is not the first time MACBAN has manufactured false accusations to shield Fulani militias after coordinated attacks on villages,” Maton added.

The exchange between the two groups underscores escalating ethnic and security tensions in Plateau State. Both sides are calling for government intervention, but the conflicting narratives reflect a deeper mistrust that has plagued the region for years.

As the accusations fly and fears of reprisal attacks grow, stakeholders are calling on federal and state authorities to conduct an independent investigation and prioritize dialogue to prevent further bloodshed.