National President of Berom Youths Moulders Association (BYM), Barrister Solomon Dalyop, has vehemently denied allegations by Chairman of Plateau State chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, that youths of the Inzon community of Fan district in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of the state, attacked three young herders, killing a 13-year-old boy, Abubakar Wada injured two other and slaughtered 39 cattle.

Babayo had made the allegations on Wednesday, alleging that armed Berom youths ambushed the herders on Tuesday and opened fire on them while grazing their animals, killing Wada and the 36 cows, while two others managed to escape with gunshot injuries, just 49 cattle fled in different directions and are yet to be found.

“The incident happened in the evening. We have so far counted the losses of over 80 cattle because 36 were killed while 49 are still missing. The attack was carried out by the Berom people from the Fan district.

“Two herders escaped the attack. This is barbaric and unfortunate. The herders and the cattle were just passing peacefully without provocation,” the MACBAN Chairman had alleged.

However, while reacting to Babayo’s statement on Wednesday night, Dalyop denied the allegations, saying there was no way the MACBAN Chairman could prove that the assailants were Berom people.

The BYM President said contrary to the allegations, Berom people are peaceful and accommodating people who co-exist with others and only after peace in the state.

In the statement, Dalyop criticized what he termed as the hasty conclusion by Babayo when security agencies have not conducted investigations to ascertain who the attackers were.

He emphasized that the allegations were a strategy often employed by the Fulani herdsmen to justify any invasion and violence against Berom communities.

“As far as we are concerned, the allegation labeling our peace loving inhabitants of Nding and Fan District in general has always been a ploy to justify any planned aggression on our people,” Dalyop said.

He added that contrary to the accusations by Babayo, the reverse was the case as suspected Fulani militias had actually carried out simultaneous attacks in the district on Monday, killing one person and injuring others.

“We are aware of two simultaneous attacks carried out by suspected Fulani armed groups at about 7:30pm of 6th October, 2025, resulting to the killing of one Mr. Timothy Ishaku Chollom,” Dalyop insisted.

The BYM President concluded that the allegations of killing a herder and their cows without substantiating them or providing credible evidence should be discarded.

Plateau: ‘Count us out of attacks on herdsmen’ – Berom youths counter MACBAN