14 Cows Killed, 29 Rustled inAttack on Herders by Berom Militia in Plateau
By Zagazola Makama
At least 14 cattle were reportedly killed and 29 others rustled in an attack on Fulani herders by Berom Militia in the Gero area of Gyel District in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The incident occurred at about 6:20 p.m. on Saturday, August 22, 2026, when troops of Sector 6, Operation ENDURING PEACE, deployed in Gero responded to a report of an attack on cattle in the community.
According to military sources, the troops arrived at the location and discovered 10 cattle killed, while two others were found with gunshot wounds.
Additional information available to the troops indicated that the attackers had rustled an undisclosed number of cattle towards Gyel community.
However, sources within the affected community said the total number of cattle killed was about 14, while 29 others were allegedly taken away by the attackers.
Troops have commenced clearance operations in Gyel community in an effort to recover the rustled cattle, while a manhunt for the perpetrators is ongoing.
The incident is the latest in a series of violent attacks reported around the Gero and neighbouring areas. It comes after an attack on June 30, 2026, in which three people were reportedly killed in the Gero area, while another attack on June 16 at Nyongo reportedly claimed four lives whose whereabouts remain unresolved.
The latest incident has renewed concerns over the vulnerability of pastoral communities and the potential for isolated attacks to trigger a wider cycle of violence.
Security sources warned that attacks targeting cattle, particularly when accompanied by killings, can easily generate retaliatory attacks by affected communities, thereby escalating what may initially be an isolated criminal incident into broader communal violence.
Security agencies are therefore expected to intensify patrols, intelligence gathering and community engagement in the affected areas to identify the perpetrators, recover the rustled livestock and prevent reprisals.
The development also highlight the need for community leaders and stakeholders to discourage retaliatory violence and support security agencies in bringing those responsible to justice.
