Fulani herdsmen open fire on commercial bus, gun down passengers in Plateau

No fewer than six people have been reportedly killed and two others injured after suspected Fulani herdsmen opened fire on a commercial bus at Dungus Kuru T-junction, close to Science School in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Security expert, Zagazola Makama disclosed this in a report he posted on his official X handle on Monday.

He said the attack occurred on Sunday might, less than 24 hours after three young Fulani herders were killed and dozens of cattle shot dead in Alohom community, Sabon Gari District of Mangu Local Government Area.

Quoting military sources, Makama said that troops of Sector 6, Operation Enduring Peace, responded to a distress report concerning an attack on commuters travelling in a commercial bus from the Farin Lamba axis.

Upon arrival at the scene, the troops discovered that the attackers, who were travelling in a vehicle, had opened fire on the bus, killing six passengers on the spot. The victims comprised five males and one female, while two other passengers sustained gunshot injuries.

The troops immediately evacuated the injured victims to a hospital for treatment and commenced an exploitation of the surrounding area in an attempt to track the attackers.

No contact was established with the assailants, who had fled the scene before the arrival of the troops. Further offensive and security operations were ongoing in the general area as authorities moved to prevent another attack and establish the identities of those responsible.

The latest attack came barely a day after the killing of three young Fulani herders at Alohom, where 36 cattle were also killed and another 12 reportedly wounded in an attack attributed by eyewitnesses to suspected Mwaghavul militia.

The three deceased herders were identified by members of the Fulbe community as Garzali Shaibu, 18; Bashiru Yakubu, 14; and Salim Abubakar, 15. Two other members of the herding group were initially reported missing.

The deaths of the young herders and destruction of the cattle had already heightened fears of a retaliatory attack in other parts of Plateau.

That fear now appears to have materialised, although there is currently no military or police confirmation that the Dungus Kuru attack was carried out in direct retaliation for the Mangu killings.