‘Bunch of liars’ – BYM blasts MACBAN over allegations of herdsmen killing by Berom militias 

The Berom Youth Moulders-Association (BYM) has strongly condemned allegations by the Plateau State chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, which claimed that four Fulani herdsmen were ambushed and killed by ‘Berom Militia’ gangs.

MACBAN, in a statement issued on Wednesday by its Chairman, Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, claimed that four Fulani herdsmen were ambushed and killed by Berom militias, while another narrowly escaped with serious injuries while grazing their cattle around the Gero-Rafin Bauna axis in Jos South Local Government Area of the state.

While reacting to the allegations in a counter statement on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary,
Rwang Tengwong, the BYM said the Fulani organization was economical with the truth while churning out lies to justify attacks and killings perpetrated by bandits and terrorists in rural communities, especially in Berom lands.

The statement reads:

“The attention of the Berom Youth Moulders-Association (BYM) under the leadership of Barr. Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri has been drawn to claims by the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) alleging that four of its members were killed around the Gero–Rafin Bauna axis of Jos South Local Government Area, where over 40 murderous terrorists invaded artisan miners at about 9:00am on 30th June, 2026, and opened gunfire at the unsuspecting residents. As a result, three people were killed on the spot, while two were injured.

“First and foremost, the Berom nation does not have any militia group. If indeed the Berom people had a militia as falsely alleged, armed Fulani terrorists would not have continued to invade our communities, kill our people, destroy our farms, and displace indigenous populations across several communities in Plateau State with alarming frequency.

“BYM considers this claim, not only misleading and an unfortunate attempt to distort the narrative, but also an admission to the fact that MACBAN is, in our firm view, a party to the terror gang which unleashed violence on defenseless miners, following the circumstances surrounding the violent attack that claimed innocent lives in a serene environment of Nyango Gyel.

“Available information indicates that the four deceased persons were among a heavily armed group of more than 40 attackers who invaded a mining site at Nyango in Gyel District on 29th June 2026, opening fire on local miners and resulting in the death of three innocent citizens while leaving two others with varying degrees of injuries.

“Information has revealed that the armed group had laid an overnight ambush at the mining site with no Fulani settlement even close by or any grazing activity within the vicinity of the scene.

“Faced with this unprovoked assault, local vigilante members, upon a pressing call from the scene of the terror, mobilised and swiftly swung into action to defend the vulnerable miners and nearby communities and livelihoods. In the ensuing repel, four of the attacking marauders and/terrorists were neutralised while the rest escaped from the scene.

“But ridiculously, MACBAN’s attempt to portray those neutralised by local vigilante members as harmless cattle breeders raises serious concerns and risks diverting attention from the real victims of the attack and the persistent insecurity facing indigenous communities and other law abiding citizens not only in Plateau State, but the country at large.

“MACBAN has been known to spin lies to justify the actions of Fulani bandits and terrorists, but this time, we will not let that slide.”