Fulani Herdsmen Grazing On Our Brothers, Sisters’ Graves – Plateau Residents

Plateau State residents have accused Fulani herdsmen of grazing their cattle on the graves of their departed brothers and sisters.

Speaking under the aegis of the Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM), the residents equally accused the herders of forcefully occupying and renaming their communities.

Chairman of the BYM, Choji Chuwang, has asked the Nigerian government to intercede on the residents’ behalf by helping them recover the communities that were allegedly “conquered” and renamed by the Fulani herdsmen as early as the 2000s.

Chuwang said, “The Fulani herdsmen graze on the grave sites of our dead brothers and sisters and even on our holy places of worship.”

“It is on record that between 2001 and now, Fulani herdsmen have sacked and taken over 54 communities in Plateau State and renamed them according to their culture and language.

“This is evident in Barkin Ladi and Riyom local government areas; this we can affirm because the current herdsmen in those areas are not the ones that had lived among us previously.

“Our people have been traumatised, several killed and properties destroyed to make them flee their ancestral homes which are now being occupied by the same terrorist herdsmen.

“It is on record that 54 communities, such as Dankum (now renamed as Mahanga by Fulani), Fass (renamed as Tafawa), Janda, Hywa, Rotchun, Rakweng, Shong I and II, Diyan Hei, Pwabeduk, Sharu, Dashugu, Tagabos, Shonong, Maseh, Kampwas, She, Kak, Dajak,Rarin, Kufang, Rantis, Jong, Zim, Lukfine, Lobiring, Angio, and Kachin, among many, were completely sacked and their inhabitants displaced in Riyom and Barkin Ladi LGAs.

“For us as citizens of Plateau State and especially the Northern Senatorial zone, we wish to state in unequivocal terms that we do not have land for cattle colonies,” said the group’s chairman.