At least four children have reportedly lost their lives in a reprisal attack on Dorong village in the Foron district of Barkin Ladi LGA, Plateau state.
Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, reported that the incident occurred on Thursday morning.
According to sources cited by the publication, the attack was allegedly perpetrated by armed Fulani herdsmen amid heightened tensions connected to cattle rustling and violence targeting herders in the area.
The victims were identified as Precious Joshuah, 17; Isa’ac Joshuah, 9; Mary Joshuah, 7; and Eve Sambo, 3.
Makama noted that the attack came less than 48 hours after coordinated assaults on pastoral communities in Barkin Ladi, Jos East and Riyom LGAs, during which at least 168 cattle were reportedly rustled and several others poisoned.
The publication added that residents had been living in fear since the rustling incidents.
Security operatives have since been deployed to the affected area to prevent further escalation and restore calm.“The atmosphere has been tense. People warned that reprisals were imminent if nothing was done. Sadly, those fears have now materialised,” a source told the publication.