The Fulani Youths Movement, FYM, has warned against further attacks on Fulani herders in Plateau State, saying it will no longer remain silent over the killing of its members and destruction of their livelihoods.
The group issued the warning after its inaugural meeting in Jos on Friday, expressing concern over what it described as repeated attacks on herding communities in several parts of the state.
In a communique signed by its convener, Adams Jouro, the group alleged that Fulani herders had suffered attacks in Barkin Ladi, Riyom, Bassa, Bokkos and Mangu Local Government Areas, among other parts of Plateau.
The group called on the Plateau State Government and security agencies to investigate the attacks and determine the extent of losses suffered by Fulani communities.
It also demanded justice for people it said had been killed and for cattle it alleged had been stolen or destroyed.
Jouro said the group was concerned about what it described as a one-sided portrayal of the violence in the state, arguing that Fulani communities were often blamed for attacks even when they were victims.
“Contrary to biased media reports pushed out daily, the Fulani herding communities have suffered more in the hands of local ethnic gangs, especially the Berom Militias,” he said.
According to him, hundreds of Fulani people had been killed and thousands of cattle lost since the beginning of the year.
“Since the beginning of this year, we have lost hundreds of our people while thousands of cattle have either been killed or stolen, and every time these attacks happen, they are quick to blame Fulani people,” he said.
Jouro listed Barkin Ladi, Riyom, Bokkos, Bassa, Jos South and Mangu among areas where he claimed Fulani communities had suffered attacks.
The group, however, acknowledged that criminal elements existed among Fulani communities, saying such individuals should not be allowed to make the entire ethnic group responsible for criminal activities.
“While we agree that there are criminal elements among our people, just like every tribe has such people, the attacks and killings of innocent herders and destruction of their livelihoods must end henceforth,” the communique stated.
The group warned that it would not continue to remain silent over attacks on what it described as innocent herders.
“We will no longer sit back and watch innocent herders killed for the sins of a few criminals,” it said.
The FYM’s position comes against the background of years of violence and tension between farming and herding communities in Plateau State.
The state has witnessed repeated clashes involving farmers and herders, as well as attacks by armed groups and other criminal elements. The violence has resulted in deaths, destruction of homes and farms, displacement of residents and the loss of livestock.
The conflict has also deepened mistrust between communities, with different groups often accusing one another of launching attacks or supporting armed groups.
Plateau is one of several states in Nigeria where disputes over land, farming, grazing routes and access to natural resources have contributed to violent conflicts.
Competition over land and water has often been made worse by population growth, climate pressures and the expansion of farming activities into areas traditionally used for grazing.
At the same time, farmers have complained of the destruction of crops by cattle and attacks allegedly carried out by armed herders.
Herders, on the other hand, have repeatedly complained about cattle rustling, attacks on their communities and the killing of their members.
The result has been a cycle of attacks and reprisals that has made it difficult for communities to rebuild trust.
The FYM said the situation required an impartial investigation rather than blame being placed on one group.
It therefore called on the Plateau State Government and security agencies to establish independent investigation panels to examine attacks involving Fulani communities.
The group said such panels should determine the level of damage suffered by the communities and help victims obtain justice.
“For now, we say enough is enough,” the communique stated.
The call for investigation is coming at a time when governments and security agencies have continued to face pressure to find lasting solutions to recurring violence in Plateau and other parts of the country.
Security agencies have often deployed troops and police personnel to troubled communities following attacks, while state and federal authorities have also held peace meetings involving community leaders and other stakeholders.
However, repeated outbreaks of violence have raised questions about the effectiveness of these measures and the need for stronger early-warning systems.
Community leaders and civil society groups have also stressed the importance of identifying the people responsible for attacks and prosecuting them, regardless of their ethnic or religious background.
Such measures, they argue, are necessary to prevent communities from resorting to self-help or collective punishment.
The latest warning by the Fulani youths has also highlighted the danger of growing tension between ethnic groups in Plateau.
Statements that accuse one community or another of being responsible for violence can further deepen mistrust if not supported by independent investigations.
For this reason, security experts and community leaders have repeatedly called for credible investigations into attacks, proper documentation of casualties and the prosecution of perpetrators.
They have also urged residents to avoid retaliatory attacks and allow security agencies to handle criminal cases.
The FYM said it was not denying the existence of criminals among Fulani people but insisted that innocent members of the community should not be targeted because of the actions of individuals.
The group also wants authorities to investigate alleged attacks on livestock, which it said had caused serious economic losses to herding families.
For many pastoral families, cattle are a major source of income and a key part of their livelihood. The loss of livestock through killings or theft can therefore have serious economic consequences.
Similarly, farmers who lose crops or farmland during violent attacks face severe financial hardship and food insecurity.
The wider conflict has therefore become both a security and economic issue for communities in affected parts of Plateau.
The challenge before the state government and security agencies is to ensure that all victims receive protection and justice while preventing further attacks and reprisals.
The Fulani youths’ warning has added to calls for authorities to investigate claims made by all sides and identify those responsible for violence.
Rather than allowing accusations between communities to continue unchecked, the group said independent investigations should establish what happened in individual cases and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.
The development also underscores the need for sustained dialogue among farmers, herders, traditional rulers, youth groups and government officials.
For lasting peace to return to Plateau, stakeholders will need to address both immediate security threats and the deeper disputes over land, grazing, farming and community boundaries that have contributed to repeated violence.
The Fulani Youths Movement has now asked the government to act, warning that it will no longer accept what it described as the continued killing of innocent herders.