Troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) on Saturday averted what could have been another violent episode in Plateau State after suspected armed Berom youths attacked a Fulani settlement in Tanjol Village, Riyom Local Government Area.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the attack, which occurred at about 1:00 p.m., targeted cattle belonging to Fulani herders. Three cows were shot one killed and two severely injured in an apparent act of provocation in the tense community.
In response, Fulani youths from Mahanga mobilised for a reprisal but were intercepted by troops before further violence could erupt.
During the confrontation, two Fulani youths sustained gunshot injuries, but no deaths were recorded. Troops from Sector 6 OPSH, backed by reinforcements from Sector 4 and Forward Operating Base (FOB) Gashish, swiftly intervened and dispersed the militias, who fled into nearby bushes.
Security forces, alongside police personnel, have since dominated the area with patrols to forestall escalation. Military sources also confirmed that clearance operations are ongoing in Mahanga, where the Fulani youths had mobilised.
The incident is the latest in a worrying pattern of targeted attacks in Plateau State, following recent unrest in parts of the state. Observers warn that such reprisals are taking on a more systematic and dangerous dimension.
There is growing concern that political leaders in the country, particularly from the Plateau State Government, have failed to adequately respond to the ongoing violence. Instead, their rhetoric is being blamed for inflaming tensions rather than promoting peace.
