The tension in Plateau State over alleged theft of cows thickened on Saturday with the killing of a local hunter identified as Daniel Wallam in Maijankhai village, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area .
The deceased was said to have been gunned down by suspected Fulani herdsmen who had invaded some farmlands with their cattle .
Several calls to the spokesperson of the Plateau State Police Command , Matthias Tyopev, for response were not replied .
But when contacted , the spokesperson of OPSH , Major Umar Adams, said he would make enquiries and “ get back .”
But as at the time of filing this report, he had yet to “ get back ” to our correspondent as promised .
The attack came barely two days after allegation by the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria , Plateau State chapter , that their cows had been stolen .
But while the Special Military Taskforce , codenamed Operation Safe Haven , had faulted the figure and insisted that there was no tension over the alleged stolen cows, the Irigwe Development Association dismissed the claim , saying it was a plan to justify planned attack by the Fulani herdsmen .
Although the details of the incident were sketchy , the chairman, Public Accounts and Petitions in Plateau State House of Assembly representing Barkin Ladi constituency, Peter Gyendeng , confirmed the killing in an interview with The PUNCH on Sunday evening .
Gyendeng said, “ The incident happened on Saturday ; it was around 11: 00pm that we got a phone call about the killing .
“ The man was a hunter and was hunting for animals in the bush .
“ On his way returning home , he met the herdsmen destroying some farmlands.
“ But the hunter did not know that there were other herdsmen close by, watching him .
“ The community confirmed that he called to alert them about the destruction of their farmlands by the Fulani herdsmen and that they should come .
“ So , as he was making that call , he heard a gunshot and started running .
“ The herdsmen followed him and gunned him down .
The OPSH and Divisional Police Officer of Barkin Ladi were there for a visit . I was there too this ( Sunday) morning .” 
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