The Berom Youth-Moulders Association, BYM, and the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, are currently at loggerheads following allegations and counter-allegations over violent attacks and killings across Plateau State.

The BYM first raised the concern in a statement on Tuesday over what it described as a misleading narrative by the state chapter of MACBAN where the Fulani group alleged that a gang of “Berom Militias” had attacked herders and their cows in Jos South Local Government Area on Friday, June 5, 2026, where a 15-year-old herder was reportedly killed.

In the statement issued by the MACBAN Chairman in the state, Ibrahim Yusuf Babayo, accused Berom youths of attacking the herders and killing the teenager identified as Sadi Aliyu, as well as 11 cows at Sabon Gidan Kanar community of the council.

Babayo said the herders were tending to their cattle peacefully when the gunmen suddenly stormed the area and opened fire on them.

“The attack was unprovoked as the victim alongside his colleagues was rearing their cattle when the gunmen attacked them. They shot one herder and 13 cattle dead. About 11 cattle are still missing,“ the MACBAN Chairman had said.

He added that the continuous targeting of innocent herders and their livestock was unacceptable and poses a serious threat to peaceful coexistence and security in Plateau State.

But while reacting to the allegations by MACBAN, the BYM in its own statement on Tuesday, said the claims that those who carried out attacks were “Berom Militias” were not only baseless but misleading and unfounded.

The statement which was issued by the National Publicity Secretary of BYM, Rwang Tengwong, stated that on the contrary, Fulani bandits have been on the rampage, invading and sacking rural communities and killing innocent residents.

“Contrary to MACBAN claims, available information from the affected community indicates that armed Fulani terrorists took advantage of the early morning rainfall last Friday to launch an attack on unsuspecting residents of Ful who had already gone out in search of their livelihood before the rain commenced,” Tengwong said.

Citing a particular incident where a member of the affected community was ambushed and killed in a targeted attack, Tengwong said:

“The attack resulted in the killing of a community member, Mr. Jan while another resident, Mr. Silvanus Toma, sustained gunshot wounds on the head and is currently receiving treatment at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, JUTH, in critical condition.

“BYM strongly condemns every loss of innocent life regardless of ethnicity, religion or occupation. However, we reject attempts to distort facts, criminalise entire communities and ignore the suffering of indigenous residents who continue to bear the brunt of violent attacks.

“We call on security agencies to conduct a thorough, impartial and professional investigation into the incident and ensure that all perpetrators, irrespective of their background, are brought to justice,” the BYM said.

The Senate has intensified its oversight of the South East Development Commission (SEDC), demanding detailed explanations for billions of naira spent from funds released to the agency under the 2025 budget.

The development followed an investigative hearing of the Senate Committee on South East Development Commission, where lawmakers raised concerns over several expenditure items contained in the commission’s financial records.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, disclosed that,”records obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria indicated that the commission received N16.6 billion in budgetary releases. However, only N13 billion remains in its accounts, suggesting that about N3.6 billion has already been spent”.

Among the expenditures questioned by lawmakers was an alleged N153 million payment for the rental of a one-room liaison office in Abuja, as well as N2.5 billion recorded as implied expenditure.

Senator Kalu described the financial report submitted by the commission as unsatisfactory and insisted that all spending must be properly justified.

Several members of the committee also expressed dissatisfaction with the documentation presented by the commission, calling for greater transparency in the management of public funds.

Responding to the concerns, SEDC Managing Director, Mark Okoye, defended the agency’s spending, maintaining that all expenditures were prudently undertaken and based on actual cash releases to prevent the accumulation of unfunded liabilities.

Despite the explanation, lawmakers remained unconvinced and directed the commission to provide comprehensive records of all contracts awarded, payments made and supporting documents relating to its expenditures.

The committee gave the SEDC until June 23 to submit the requested documents and indicated that the commission would be invited for a further appearance after reviewing the records.

The probe is part of the Senate’s ongoing oversight of federal agencies to ensure accountability and transparency in the utilisation of public funds.