…destroy over 4 hectares of irrigation farmlands with chemicals
Suspected Fulani militia have been fingered behind the beheading of a 30-year-old man in Bassa Local Area (LGA) of Plateau State in the Central part of the country.
This disturbing episode trend has brought to the fore another shift in the manner in which the security situation in the Middle Belt region of Nigeria is deteriorating daily.
Mr. Elisha Abbas Saku, 30 years old was ambushed at Riwhie-Chwo, Nzharuvo of Miango District in Bassa LGA of the state on Thursday and made away with the head.
Mr. Elisha Abbas Saku, 30-years-old, was ambushed at Riwhie-Chwo, Nzharuvo of Miango District in Bassa LGA of the State
The National Publicity Secretary of Irigwe Youth Movement (IYM), Joseph Chudu Yonkpa made this known on Friday shortly after the burial of the remains of the body, describing the incident as one out of the many happenings being witnessed in recent times across Irigwe land.
Joseph Chudu Yonkpa, National Publicity Secretary of Irigwe Youth Movement.
According to Yonkpa, “Yesterday night, 16th April 2026, Fulani militias ambushed and beheaded Mr. Elisha Abbas Saku, 30 years old, at Riwhie-Chwo, Nzharuvo, Miango District of Bassa LGA, Plateau State. May his soul rest in peace, and may God comfort the entire Irigwe Nation.”
In February 2026, the District witnessed five separate attacks that claimed the lives of five people, with three injured. A situation that the community said signals the return of hostility in the villages of Irigwe land.
Poster of the 7 Victims of the Miango massacre.
The leadership of Irigwe Youth Movement (I.Y.M) had earlier expressed concerns over the tragic trend of events that have befallen Irigwe communities, described as a return of terror against their people by “Fulani herdsmen/militias.”
Mr. Yonkpa said, “Their heinous activities now transcend large-scale irrigation farm destruction and grazing on our farms by their cattle in communities of Zanwra, Ariri, Nzharuvo, Kweshe, Rewienku, Tegbe, and other communities in Irigwe land, into attacks and killings of our people.
“The records of the five isolated attacks on our people in recent times started on Sunday, 22nd February 2026, when Mr. Sunday Gara, a 66-year-old resident of Nzharuvo community, was attacked in his farm by three Fulani herders. He was rescued by the community when he began to shout for help. He is currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed location; no arrest has been made till today.
“On Monday, 23rd February 2026, Mr. Abbas Musa, 58 years old, another resident of Nzharuvo community, succumbed to bullet injuries right in his house as a result of a Fulani terrorist attack. “On Tuesday, 24th February 2026, young Ngwe Ayuba, 10 years old, was killed at Nkie Dewe by the same Fulani militias. On 26th February 2026, Fulani militias, in their numbers, stormed Nche Shwerishi, Miango, killing; Nancy Monday, 17 years old, Tamar Monday 13 years old, Nuhu Isaiah Zongo 19 years old, Henry Dah Yakubu 17 years old, Matthew Zongo Sunday, 17 years old.
“Three people were injured, and they include: Philip Sunday 15 years old, Lalah Sunday 14 years old, Alheri Abba (baby) 26 years old,” he stated.
For the youths, the frequency of the attacks called for government, security agencies, as well as other stakeholders, to not only condemn it but also join them in seeking justice for their martyrs.
“Security agencies should step up and arrest the perpetrators of these attacks because they are not ghosts. We don’t know their satanic intentions this night or next. Government must be seen in action, protecting the lives and properties of its citizenry. May the blood of any Irigwe person shed in cold blood by Fulani militias not go in vain, even as we continue to seek justice for our people,” Yonkpa prayed.
The community recently expressed concerns over the willful destruction of farmland by the Fulani herdsmen, where large-scale Farms were destroyed in “La’ake village of Irigwe Chiefdom of Bassa LGA, they deliberately feed our crops to their cattle,” he said.
In a related development, the Berom Youths Moulder-Association (BYM) has expressed sadness over the destruction of four hectares of dry-season farmland with a midnight hazardous herbicide by suspected Fulani militants in the Barkin-Ladi LGA of Plateau State.
The National Publicity Secretary (BYM) Mr Rwang Tengwong on Friday brief Newsmen that over thirteen maize and hot pepper farms belonging to inhabitants of Gassa Community in Ropp District, Barkin Ladi LGA were all spread overnight with herbicides.
He said the recent development has introduced a new form of terror activity in the local council, and security agencies need to arrest the trend to prevent tension in the area.
According to Tengwong, “BYM are perturbed by the advancement in the evil and sadistic strategies of Fulani militancy, which aim not only at ethnic cleansing but also at economic warfare through the use of hazardous herbicides on crops.
“This was carried out on over thirteen maize and hot pepper farms belonging to inhabitants of Gassa Community in Ropp District, Barkin Ladi LGA, in the midnight of 15th April, 2026.”
The National Publicity Secretary further disclosed that the chemicals were applied to dry-season farmlands covering at least four hectares overnight, with the intent not only to destroy crops, particularly hot pepper, which was already under harvest, but also to scare farmers away from returning to their farms.
“The BYM firmly views this as a FULL-SCALE economic war being waged alongside the ongoing banditry and terrorism persistently meted out on our people.
“It is worthy of mention that this is not the first time such an act has been perpetrated. Last year, the same elements carried out a similar attack on crops that were about to be harvested in villages within Fan District of Barkin Ladi LGA.
“The incident, which reportedly occurred on Wednesday night, has left the affected crops, which were previously green and healthy, now showing clear signs of drying up as the effects of the chemicals continue to manifest.
“This sad development has raised serious concern among farmers and residents of the area, given the fact that these criminally minded elements are increasingly rendering the “State of Emergency” declared on food security ineffective and counterproductive,” he stated.
Mr. Rwang Tengwong, The National Publicity Secretary, Berom Youth Moulders-Association
“The Berom Youth Moulders-Association (BYM), under the leadership of its President, Barrister Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, calls on the government, particularly security agencies, to take drastic and decisive actions to curb and end this dangerous and troubling development, in order to prevent a recurrence of such dastardly acts” he said.
The Association warned that the deliberate destruction of farmlands with hazardous chemicals poses a serious threat to food security and the livelihoods of local farmers, particularly at a time when the rainy season is approaching and irrigation farming harvests are ongoing.
Suspected Fulani deliberately destroyed tomato irrigation farmlands in Gasso/Sho using hazardous chemicals
The BYM further called on security agencies and government authorities to urgently investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice, as such acts could further heighten tensions in Gassa, Barkin Ladi, and surrounding communities.
The group also appealed for increased security surveillance among locals around farming communities by the special security outfit, Agro Rangers, to prevent further attacks on agricultural produce, ensuring that farmers are protected and able to harvest their crops safely.
