Plateau State chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has dismissed allegations by the Berom Youth-Moulders Association (BYM) that it plotted to shield a suspect arrested during an attack in Heipang. The BYM, in a statement issued Thursday by its National President, Barr. Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, claimed to have uncovered a plan by MACBAN to obtain a forged medical report asserting the suspect was mentally unstable, rendering his confessions to security personnel unreliable.
MACBAN, in a counter-statement Friday signed by its State Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, rejected the allegations as baseless and misleading, accusing the BYM of attempting to incite tension and misinform the public. The Fulani umbrella body expressed surprise at the claims, emphasizing its commitment to peace, justice, and the rule of law in Plateau State.
The association reiterated that it neither supports nor engages in acts aimed at obstructing justice and called on the BYM to refrain from spreading unverified claims. It urged collaboration with stakeholders to promote dialogue and peaceful coexistence, stressing that Plateau State has suffered greatly from cycles of misinformation and mutual suspicion. MACBAN also called on the public to disregard the allegations and remain calm, affirming confidence in security agencies to handle investigations professionally.
The dispute comes amid ongoing efforts to restore stability in Plateau State, where ethnic and communal tensions have frequently erupted into violence. Both groups’ statements highlight the fragile nature of intercommunal relations and the risks posed by unverified claims in fueling further unrest.
