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Fulani herders cut off farmer’s hand for allegedly refusing to help lift fallen cow in Plateau
A farmer identified as Yakubu Bitrus has lost a hand after a group of Fulani herdsmen allegedly attacked him and severed one of his hands after he allegedly declined their request to help lift a cow that had fallen into a ditch and got stuck.
Bitrus, who narrated his ordeal in a video clip shared on social media platforms on Friday in Agingi community of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, recounted how the herders attacked him after he initially declined their request to help lift the stuck cow.
The farmer, who narrated the incident while receiving treatment in a hospital, said the attack occurred as he and two women were returning from the farm.
He explained that the incident happened on Friday after he and the women arrived at their farm and worked until it was time to take a meal break.
He said during the break, a young herder approached them and said one of his cows had fallen. He requested their assistance in getting the animal back on its feet.
Bitrus said he explained to the herder that he was the only man with two women at the time and couldn’t leave them to go and help him remove the fallen cow. He said he advised the herder to contact other farmers nearby so that everyone could work together to lift the cow.
“The Fulani herder rejected my suggestion and insisted that the three of us should follow him immediately. He feared that the animal might die and warned me that if the cow dies, there would be a problem,” Bitrus said.
He narrated further that the situation suddenly became hostile when the herder began insulting him before chasing him with a stick and a cutlass.
“I had already noticed another person hiding nearby and realising that the herder was possibly not alone, I decided against confronting him and we ran away to avoid any fight,” he said.
He stated that they eventually found other people and returned to the area as a group to help the herders rescue the cow but noted that when they arrived, neither the herders nor the animal could be found.
“After waiting for about five minutes, we left for our different farms not knowing that the herdsmen had concealed themselves and were watching me and the two women from the point where we separated from the larger group.”
According to the farmer, on their way home after they had finished the day’s work, the attackers descended upon him and his wife.
“As we were going home, my wife decided to leave the road briefly to gather some firewood while I remained on the road with the other woman while waiting for her.”
Moments later, he said, he heard his wife screaming from the direction she had taken and he rushed to find out what could have happened to her, only to find the attackers assaulting her and striking her on the head.
Bitrus said he picked up a piece of wood and confronted the herdsmen and a struggle followed as he attempted to defend himself, protect his wife and create an opportunity to escape.
He said they initially fought with sticks but before he knew it, other herders came out from the bush and joined the others in beating him, with one of them using a machete to sever his hand before they fled into the bush.
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has declared that the All Progressives Congress, APC, or any of the political parties willing to use any of the public facilities in the state is free to do so.
Makinde specifically explained that the APC is free to use the ancient Mapo Hall for its proposed campaign.
Makinde made these declarations in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju.
The statement was made available to DAILY POST Tuesday night.
Makinde in the statement explained that no political party should be denied access to use the facilities as long as they fulfil the conditions.
Makinde made these declarations in response to concerns surrounding the proposed use of Mapo Hall by the APC presidential campaign.
He added that public facilities belong to the people of the state.
He said that its usage must be done in transparent and equitable way.
Makinde in the statement explained that, "Any political party or organisation that fulfils the stipulated conditions should not face discrimination or unjust restrictions in accessing such facilities".
2027: APC, other political parties free to use public facilities- Makinde
The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the arrest of a 22-year-old man, Umar Ibrahim Gandi Maradun, over a viral video allegedly showing him calling for the use of AK-47 rifles to kill Christians in Enugu and Plateau states.
Politics Nigeria reports that the suspect, a native of Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State, was arrested for investigation after the video circulated on social media and sparked concerns over religiously motivated violence.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, the Force Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Ani Iniedu, said the Zamfara State Police Command had activated its intelligence resources to identify those involved in the incident.
The police also confirmed that the command had engaged the leadership of Jama’atu Izalatil Bidi’a Wa’ikamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS) at the national and state levels following the emergence of the video.
According to the police, the organisation disassociated itself from the alleged conduct and handed the suspect over to the authorities for investigation.
The video reportedly showed the suspect wearing JIBWIS uniform and appearing alongside pupils from two Islamic schools in Maradun: Nurul Islam Islamiya and Akidatul Sahiha Islamiya.
Preliminary findings by the Zamfara State Police Command indicated that the video was recorded on Friday, October 23, 2026, while the suspect was reportedly on his way to Aliyu Ibn Abi Thalib Mosque, where he and others allegedly provided security during Friday prayers and preaching.
The suspect was born on September 15, 2004. He reportedly attended Mualledi Model Primary School and Government Day Secondary School, both in Maradun.
He also reportedly joined JIBWIS in 2025 and recently gained admission to study Mass Communication at Zamfara State University, Talata Mafara.
The police said a comprehensive investigation had commenced and that the suspect would be charged before a competent court if sufficient evidence established an offence under applicable law.
Earlier, the Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, Bello, said the investigation would consider allegations of incitement to violence, disturbance of public peace and criminal intimidation under Sections 77, 78 and 380(b) of the Penal Code Law applicable in the state, subject to the evidence gathered and applicable law.
The police also condemned statements capable of promoting religious hatred, threatening community safety or undermining peaceful coexistence.
“The Zamfara State Police Command remains resolute in its duty to uphold the law, protect lives and property, defend the rights of all citizens without discrimination, and work with relevant stakeholders to sustain peace and security throughout Zamfara State,” the commissioner said.
The development comes as JIBWIS has publicly distanced itself from the video and condemned calls for violence against non-Muslims.
The group’s National Publicity Secretary, Sheikh Ahmad Muhammad Ashiru, stated this in a statement issued at its headquarters in Jos on Tuesday.
Ashiru said the organisation had yet to establish the authenticity of the video but maintained that its position against violence was clear.
“We are yet to confirm whether the video is authentic, but our position against violence remains clear,” he said.
He added that JIBWIS, under the leadership of Ash-Sheikh Muhammad Sani Yahaya Jingir, would not support calls to attack or kill anyone because of their religious affiliation.
Ashiru said banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery and Boko Haram attacks were already affecting communities across the country, warning that statements promoting violence could heighten tensions and threaten peaceful coexistence.
“We would not support any call capable of disturbing the peace of Nigeria, as such comments are capable of inciting violence and creating unnecessary tension among Nigerians,” he said.
The JIBWIS spokesperson stressed that anyone making such statements in the organisation’s name did not represent its position.
He urged security agencies to investigate the video, establish its authenticity and identify those responsible, adding that anyone found culpable should face the law after a proper investigation.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has urged members of the public to remain calm, avoid circulating unverified information and refrain from sharing the video in ways that could escalate religious tensions.
The Force reiterated its commitment to protecting Nigerians irrespective of religious affiliation and taking lawful action against conduct capable of inciting hatred or threatening public peace.
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