Plateau: Troops foil another major violent clash as angry youths attack Fulani settlement

Security operatives under Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) on Saturday intervened to halt what could have escalated into a major violent clash in Plateau State, following an assault on a Fulani community in Tanjol village, located in Riyom Local Government Area.

The attack, which took place around 1 p.m., was reportedly aimed at livestock belonging to Fulani residents of the area.

According to counter-insurgency expert and security analyst Zagazola Makama, armed youths were responsible for the incursion.

Three cows were shot during the incident—one was killed and two others were left critically injured—in what appeared to be a calculated act intended to provoke unrest in the already volatile region.

“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,” Zaragoza said.

The episode adds to a series of recurring attacks in Plateau, a state grappling with ongoing communal tensions. Analysts caution that retaliatory actions such as this are becoming increasingly organized and pose a deepening threat to peace in the region.