Berom youths  alleges cover-up attempt in Plateau village killings

The Berom Youth Moulders-Association (BYM) has accused the leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Plateau State of allegedly plotting to shield a suspect arrested in connection with a recent attack on Pwomol village in Heipang District of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.

The attack, which occurred on the night of Sunday, April 5, reportedly left two persons dead and several properties destroyed. Gunmen suspected to be Fulani militia were said to have invaded the community.

During the incident, one of the alleged perpetrators, identified as Suleiman, described as a Fulani man, was apprehended by a local vigilante group and subsequently handed over to security operatives for further interrogation.

In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its National President, Barr. Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, BYM alleged that it had uncovered a plan by MACBAN to obtain a forged medical report declaring the suspect mentally unstable in order to secure his release.

According to Mwantiri, the association received what he described as credible intelligence from an anonymous source indicating that efforts were underway to procure a questionable medical certificate claiming that the suspect is mentally incapacitated.

“The alleged plan,” Mwantiri stated, “is to present the medical certificate to the Special Task Force under Operation Enduring Peace as grounds to pressure authorities to release the suspect or face the threat of legal action.”

The youth group condemned the purported move, describing it as a deliberate attempt to obstruct justice and shield an individual allegedly linked to the attack on the Pwomol community.

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BYM argued that it would be illogical for a suspect who reportedly provided detailed information about the incident during interrogation to suddenly be declared mentally unstable.

“The level of information reportedly supplied by the suspect about the incident raises serious questions about the credibility of any sudden claim of mental incapacity,” the statement said.

The association warned that any questionable medical document presented in connection with the case should prompt an investigation not only of the suspect but also of those responsible for producing or facilitating such documentation.

BYM further stated that the Berom people would not accept what it described as any “fabricated narrative” aimed at derailing the investigation or frustrating accountability.

It cautioned that interference in the investigative process could heighten suspicions of vested interests seeking to undermine justice and embolden further attacks on communities in Plateau State.

The group also warned that any perceived compromise of the process could attract wider scrutiny, noting that such actions would send a troubling signal about the commitment to protecting innocent citizens and upholding the rule of law.

As of the time of filing this report, MACBAN had not publicly responded to the allegations. Security agencies are yet to issue an official statement regarding the claims or the status of the suspect.