Gunmen ambush, kill Miyetti Allah Chairman

Tension has gripped parts of Benue State after gunmen killed the state chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Risku Muhammad, shortly after he attended a peace meeting.

Muhammad was killed alongside his friend, Yakubu Isah, on Friday while returning from the meeting convened in Ohinmini Local Government Area of the state.

The attack reportedly occurred at Okudu village in neighbouring Otukpo Local Government Area, raising fresh fears of renewed violence in communities already battling insecurity and communal tension.

According to reports, the meeting was convened by the Divisional Police Officer of Ohinmini LGA and involved community leaders and Fulani herders.

The meeting was called to discuss measures aimed at restoring peace in Ayunne Community, where several people were reportedly killed in a recent attack.

Sources said Muhammad and his companion had left the meeting and were travelling back when gunmen ambushed their vehicle and shot them dead.

The eldest son of the deceased, Idris Muhammad, confirmed the killing in a telephone interview on Friday night, saying his father was attacked while returning from the peace meeting.

The Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, also confirmed the incident, describing it as disturbing.

“It is true that the state chairman of MACBAN was killed within Otukpo Local Government Area this afternoon. The killing has raised tension in the community and neighbouring areas,” Ogiri said.

He appealed to residents to remain calm, assuring them that security agencies were already handling the situation.

Also confirming the development, the Chairman of Ohinmini Local Government Area, Adole Gabriel, said the deceased had participated in the peace dialogue shortly before he was killed.

“You know there was a crisis at Ayunne Community where some people were killed some time ago, and the DPO of Ohinmini convened a peace meeting involving Fulani herders and members of the community.

“I was told the meeting was fruitful and, at the end of it, the man left. Unfortunately, I learnt that some gunmen ambushed his vehicle at Okudu Community in Otukpo Local Government Area and killed him alongside one other person,” Gabriel said.

The spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, Udeme Edet, said the command had received a report of the attack and had commenced investigation.

“I have received the report and investigation is ongoing,” Edet said.

The killing has unsettled communities in Otukpo and neighbouring Ohinmini Local Government Areas, which have witnessed repeated attacks in recent months.

Meanwhile, the national leadership of MACBAN has condemned the killing, describing it as a “dastardly and deeply disturbing act.”

In a statement issued on Friday by its National President, Baba Othman-Ngelzarma, the association said the circumstances surrounding Muhammad’s death raised serious concerns.

MACBAN said it was troubling that a community leader who attended a meeting aimed at promoting peace could be killed shortly after leaving the dialogue.

The association also expressed concern over reports that one of the deceased’s children, a lawyer, was allegedly attacked in a village about a week earlier.

It called on security agencies to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the killing.

“The killing of community leaders and peace advocates threatens efforts towards reconciliation, dialogue and peaceful coexistence among communities. Those who seek to destabilise society through violence must not be allowed to succeed,” the statement added.

MACBAN commiserated with the family of the deceased, its leadership and members in Benue State, while pledging its continued commitment to peace and collaboration with security agencies.