Two herders have been found dead at separate locations in Plateau state, days after they were declared missing.
A counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, who is focused on the Lake Chad region, said the body of Suleiman Haruna, one of the herders, was found beheaded in the Gyambwas Rigi area of Mangu LGA in the wee hours of Monday.
Makama said the deceased was declared missing on Saturday alongside 33 cattle believed to have been rustled by Mwaghavul militiamen in the area.
The report said the discovery prompted a visit to the area by the commander of Sub-Sector 81, the divisional crime officer of the Nigeria Police Force, Gindiri Division, the chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), as well as community and religious leaders.
During the engagement, the visitors urged members of the Fulani community not to resort to reprisals over the killing.
The security agencies thereafter appealed for credible information that could lead to the tracking and arrest of the militia elements.
They added that operatives were currently dominating the general area to prevent further security breaches and maintain peace.
Makama said the victim was subsequently buried, with security and community representatives present.
In a related report, the publication said troops of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) had also discovered the lifeless body of another Fulani herder, identified as Mallam Shagari Hamidu, 40, in a mountainous area of Matelem village, Bokkos LGA of the state.
According to the report, the herder’s body was found at about 8:40am on Sunday after he was declared missing following an attack by Berom militia at Jirong village, Mushere Central District of Bokkos LGA.
The report said troops of Sector 5, OPEP, responded to the missing-person report and, in collaboration with the victim’s relatives, commenced search operations.
The search reportedly led to the mountainous area of Matelem village, where the operatives found the victim’s lifeless body.
The corpse was subsequently recovered and handed over to the relatives for burial.
