Two people have been killed and two others injured in a fresh attack in the Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The attack, which occurred on Wednesday morning, was reportedly carried out by Fulani militias who ambushed three Irigwe youths.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Irigwe Youths Movement, Joseph Yonkpa, who confirmed the killings, identified the victims who lost their lives as Adamu Bala, 38, and Gado Trra, 45.

Yonkpa said one of the victims survived the attack with bullet injuries and is currently receiving treatment in a hospital.

He said a military personnel was also injured during the ambush, adding that the attack resulted in the destruction of over 20 farms.

Yonkpa said, “This morning, three of our people were ambushed by Fulani militias. Two died instantly, and one survived with bullet injuries and is currently hospitalised in an undisclosed location.

“Those killed are Adamu Bala, 38 years, and Gado Trra, 45 years. Additionally, a military personnel sustained bullet injuries during the ambush. Over 20 farms were destroyed.”

The spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, Alabo Alfred, could not be reached for comment on the incident as calls put across to his mobile phone rang out.

Meanwhile, over 300 cattle were reportedly rustled on Tuesday evening around Jouckchal community in Panyam district of Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The Secretary of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria in Mangu, Musa Muhammad, told journalists in Jos that the incident occurred around 4:30 pm when the cattle were grazing in the area.

The secretary said the rustlers stormed the area in large numbers, shooting sporadically as the herders fled for their lives.

“The cattle, over 300, belonging to three persons, including Jeji Boro with 130, Shagari Manu with 70, and Tambaya Jouckchal with 103, were taken by the attackers,” Muhammad said.

According to the secretary, they informed the Commander of Sector 8 of Operation Safe Haven, the DPO, OC DSS, and the Chairman of Mangu LGA about the incident.

He added that the Sector 8 Commander had deployed troops on Tuesday night to trail the perpetrators, saying that “only 5 out of the 300 cattle were tracked by the security so far.”

Muhammad accused Mwaghavul youths of rustling the cattle and called on security agencies to recover the stolen cattle and address the ongoing attacks, stressing their commitment to peaceful coexistence.

The spokesperson for Operation Safe Haven, Major Samson Zhakom, had yet to respond to the development as of press time.

But the National President of the Mwaghavul Development Association, Bulus Dabit, in a reaction, denied the allegation made by the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association that the Mwaghavul people rustled 300 of their cows.

Dabit described cattle rustling as a criminal activity that should be investigated by security agencies, rather than being attributed to a particular tribe.

“Cattle rustling is not a tribal activity, but rather a criminal act that requires investigation and prosecution,” he said, expressing concern that the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association’s allegations on social media are “overheating the system” and stereotyping the Mwaghavul people as thieves.

He urged the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association to report any incidents of cattle rustling to security agencies for investigation, rather than taking to social media.

Dabit questioned the plausibility of the allegations, asking where the Mwaghavul people would keep 300 cows if they had indeed rustled them.

“I have always told them that cattle rustling is not a tribal activity. It is an activity of criminals. I don’t know about what they are saying, but assuming without conceding that, I’m not thinking of 300, but even if it is one cow that is missing, it is big enough for security agencies to investigate. When something like that happens, they should stop talking about it on social media.

They should report to the security agencies to investigate because this social media activity that they are doing is not helping matters. It is making our people very angry because they feel they have been stereotyped as thieves.

It is the work of the security agents to unravel any criminal activity and it is equally wrong and criminal to stereotype another group and say that the whole Mwaghavul people are stealing their cows.

We live in a very small place. Where can we keep 300 cows? I think this kind of discussion coming from the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association is overheating the system and they should do away with it.”

Meanwhile, the secretary disclosed that the death toll from the alleged cattle poisoning around the INEC office on Tuesday morning in the same Mangu LGA had risen to 36, with an additional ten cattle dying between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

The secretary lamented the losses, recalling that on April 9, 60 cattle were rustled in Murish community in the same LGA, and the herder tending to them remains missing.

MACBAN, however, called on security agencies to recover the stolen cattle and address the ongoing attacks, stressing their commitment to peaceful coexistence.

A tragic accident during an Easter procession in Billiri Local Government Area, Gombe State, has claimed the lives of five individuals and left eight others seriously injured, igniting widespread outrage and unrest within the community.

The unfortunate incident occurred on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, when a trailer truck reportedly transporting grains from Adamawa State to Gombe lost control and rammed into a crowd of worshippers taking part in the annual Christian celebration.

According to the Gombe State Police Command, preliminary investigations suggest that the truck experienced brake failure, veered off the road, and collided with the procession in Billiri town, a predominantly Christian community.

A disturbing video of the scene, shared by social media user @ZariyiYusufu on X (formerly Twitter), shows the immediate aftermath, with bodies scattered and panicked bystanders rushing to aid the wounded. Some Muslim residents who were nearby were also reportedly caught in the chaos.

In a statement released on Monday, the Gombe State Police spokesperson, DSP Buhari Abdullahi, confirmed that five individuals—two men and three women—lost their lives in the incident. The injured were promptly transported to both the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, and the General Hospital in Billiri for treatment. Medical reports indicate that all survivors are in stable condition.

Shortly after the accident, the atmosphere in Billiri turned hostile. Eyewitnesses reported that enraged youths set the trailer ablaze, attacked nearby shops, and stormed the Billiri Divisional Police Headquarters in protest. Several officers, including the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), were injured after being pelted with stones and makeshift weapons.

Police operatives quickly mobilized to contain the situation and prevent further escalation. Additional security personnel were deployed to restore calm and maintain law and order in the area.

In a firm response, the Gombe State Police Command condemned the retaliatory violence, describing it as “unlawful and counterproductive.” Commissioner of Police (CP) Bello Yahaya extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and urged community members to avoid taking the law into their own hands.

“The Command condemns this act of lawlessness and urges residents to remain calm and allow justice to take its course,” the statement read.

Investigations into the cause of the accident and the events that followed are ongoing.

Concerns are mounting over the growing pattern of fatal accidents during religious events in Gombe State, with multiple tragic incidents reported in recent years. Social media users, religious leaders, and community stakeholders have expressed deep alarm, urging authorities to act decisively.

This is not an isolated event. On December 25, 2024, a truck rammed into a Christmas procession in the Tumfure area of Gombe, killing 22 worshippers and leaving several others injured. The Christmas Day tragedy bore chilling similarities to a previous incident that occurred in 2019, when a speeding vehicle plowed into an Easter procession, killing 31 Christians in Billiri.

Civic groups and human rights advocates are urging both the Gombe State Government and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to implement stricter vehicle inspection protocols, particularly for long-haul trucks traveling through residential zones.

In a televised interview on Monday, an official of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Gombe described the event as “an avoidable tragedy that speaks to institutional failure and lack of preparedness.”

The Gombe State Police Command has assured residents that all those responsible—whether through negligence or violence—will be brought to justice.

Watch video below:
https://youtu.be/aWElVIQbWd8

There is disquiet at the Divisional Police Headquarters in Koko, Delta State, following an incident in which a female police constable, Uroupa Stella, was reportedly assaulted by a woman identified as Janet — the lover of a retired Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mathias Ajiboyide.

According to eyewitnesses, Janet physically attacked Constable Stella and tore her uniform during a confrontation that unfolded in the division’s headquarters. The incident has sparked serious concerns over discipline, abuse of influence, and impartiality within the force.

Despite the public nature of the assault, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) CSP Olaogun Lukman allegedly failed to take any meaningful action against the assailant.

Sources within the division have suggested that his reluctance may be connected to a perceived tribal affiliation with the retired ASP, a claim that has attracted criticism from officers and civilians who witnessed the event.

Recounting the incident, Constable Stella said she stepped out of the station’s counter area after hearing a commotion and discovered Janet in a heated altercation with her (Stella’s) sister.

“I demanded to know what the issue was and why she was fighting my sister. She immediately grabbed my uniform and started tearing it apart,” Stella stated.

When asked how the case was handled, she explained: “An ASP was directed by the DPO to handle it, but nothing was done. The woman was only held briefly — for about five minutes — behind the counter and then allowed to leave. She’s been walking free ever since.”

Stella noted that she has since escalated the matter to the state police command headquarters in Asaba.

Public calls for a thorough investigation are growing, with many demanding justice for the assaulted officer and accountability for any abuse of power or tribal bias.

As of now, the Nigeria Police Force has not issued an official statement regarding the incident.

Efforts to reach the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, were unsuccessful as he failed to respond to multiple calls and a text message sent for confirmation.