Plateau Communities on Edge as Fresh Cattle Killings Hit Riyom LGA
Pastoral communities in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State have been placed on high alert following a renewed wave of attacks on livestock, raising fresh concerns over security and escalating tensions between herders and local residents.
In a statement issued on February 2, 2026, a Fulani community representative in Riyom, Abdullahi Yusuf, said one cow was shot dead at Weren Camp, while three others were poisoned in Kwi Village during the afternoon hours.
Preliminary findings suggest the poisoned cattle ingested toxic substances concealed inside oranges deliberately placed in grazing areas. Experts described the method as malicious and carefully targeted.
Yusuf condemned the incidents as criminal and unacceptable, warning that they pose a serious threat to peaceful coexistence in the area. He urged security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation, identify those responsible, and ensure they are brought to justice. He also appealed to the Plateau State Government to take proactive steps to protect lives, property, and livestock and prevent further attacks.
According to him, the latest poisoning in Kwi Village is part of a disturbing pattern. “The community is becoming notorious for cattle poisoning, with repeated attacks undermining the safety and livelihoods of pastoralists and their families,” the statement said.
The attacks form part of a broader pattern of violence across Plateau State, where armed ethnic militias and criminal groups increasingly target both human and animal assets.
One major flashpoint occurred on December 27, 2025, when five Fulani youths returning from Kara Cattle Market were ambushed along Bukuru Express Road near Angle D in Jos South Local Government Area. The victims sustained critical gunshot injuries and were rushed to the Jos University Teaching Hospital for treatment.
Other reported incidents include a December 12, 2025 attack on Nding Community in Fan District, Barkin Ladi LGA, where about 137 cattle belonging to three herders were rustled, and a December 13 raid in Kukukah Community, Jos East LGA, during which 34 cows were stolen. Less than 24 hours later, nine cows reportedly died after ingesting poison in Kwi Village, Riyom LGA.
On December 16, 2025, armed Fulani bandits allegedly attacked an illegal mining site in Tosho Community, Fan District, Barkin Ladi LGA, in an attempt to recover stolen cattle. The incident left 12 people dead, three abducted, and several others injured. Retaliatory attacks followed between December 18 and 19, including the killing of four children in Dorong Village, Foron District, Barkin Ladi LGA, and further livestock killings in Gero Village, Jos South LGA.
Security sources in Plateau State said the shootings and poisonings reflect a growing pattern of attacks aimed at driving pastoral communities out of the state. They warned that the violence has instead fueled cycles of reprisal, leading to raids and clashes between herders and host communities.
“The deliberate targeting of livestock and civilians points to a coordinated effort to destabilize communities. Failure to decisively address these threats risks normalising violence and increasing civilian casualties,” a security source said.
Observers have repeatedly warned that unchecked attacks, reprisals, and weak enforcement measures are deepening insecurity across Plateau State, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated security action to protect lives, livelihoods, and fragile peace in the region.
