Herders aged 14 and 10 killed as cattle rustlers strike in Plateau

Police on Saturday said gunmen killed two boys and rustled 70 cows in Turu village, Kuru district of Jos south local government area of Plateau.

Terna Tyopev, Plateau police spokesman, confirmed the incident in an interview with NAN.

He said: “Yesterday, at about 7pm, Mr Ezekiel Dalyop of Turu village in Kuru District of Jos south local government area, reported at our division in Vom, that three herders entrusted with 70 of his cattle got missing.

“We immediately swung into action and we were able to rescue one of the herders, 16–year-old Bitrus Joseph.

“Our team of detectives later recovered the missing cattle.

“Unfortunately, in the process of rustling the cattle, two of the herders: Meshack Dalton, 14, and Pam Danjuma, 10, were killed.

“Their lifeless bodies were dumped in a bush at Dahool Bob village in Kuru District.

Tyopev said the dead bodies were recovered and deposited in the mortuary at the Vom Christian Hospital.

He urged owners of cattle in the state to stop engaging underage persons to rear their animals.

“While we commiserate with the families of those who lost their loved ones, we are urging owners of cattle to employ the services of mature persons who can take care of the herds and as well as sense danger when it rear its head and seek for safety,” he advised.

Tyopev said the command is investigating the murder and hopes to arrest the perpetrators.