Revealed: How Benue Miyetti Allah chairman was killed

By Tolulope Oke

Fresh details have emerged on how the Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, Alhaji Ardo Risku Muhammad, was killed after attending a police-arranged peace meeting.

Muhammad was reportedly shot dead on Friday afternoon alongside his associate, Yakubu Isah, while returning from the meeting in Ohimini Local Government Area of the state.

His family alleged that he was ambushed shortly after honouring an invitation by the Divisional Police Officer in the area for a peace meeting between herders and farming communities.

The deceased’s eldest son, Muhammad Idris, said his father had informed the family on Friday morning that he was going to Idekpa in Ohimini LGA after he was invited by the DPO.

According to him, the late MACBAN chairman initially planned to travel in his car, but later chose to go by motorcycle because of the poor state of the road.

He said his father arranged for his associate, Yakubu Isah, to convey him to the meeting.

Idris added that two other Fulani leaders, Alhaji Muazu and Alhaji Gudel, also attended the meeting on separate motorcycles.

He said the family became suspicious after learning that some key stakeholders who were expected at the meeting were absent.

According to him, the DPO had allegedly informed his father that the Ohimini Local Government chairman and the Ado of Ohimini would be present.

But when the MACBAN chairman arrived at the police station, only the DPO and a few elderly men said to be from Awule and Alulu communities were present.

“When my father inquired about their absence, the DPO responded that it was not an issue and that they would be notified of any outcome,” Idris said.

He said the first issue raised at the meeting was a complaint that cattle had destroyed farms in the two communities.

According to him, his father told the meeting that such a matter did not require his physical presence and could have been handled by phone.

He said the late MACBAN chairman asked the complainants to fix a date so he could meet the herders involved, inspect the alleged damage and seek an amicable settlement.

Idris said another issue raised at the meeting was that some members of the communities were afraid to approach Fulani settlements to report their grievances.

He said his father asked for a date for such engagement, but the DPO allegedly told him he would be informed later.

After the meeting, Alhaji Muazu and Alhaji Gudel reportedly left immediately, while Muhammad and Yakubu Isah stayed back briefly with the DPO.

Idris said trouble started on the way back.

According to him, Alhaji Muazu reported seeing a Hilux van with tinted glasses. The occupants allegedly wound down the glass and looked at them, but allowed them to pass.

The family believes the vehicle may have been positioned to target Muhammad and Isah.

Shortly after, the two men were reportedly ambushed and killed.

The attack was said to have occurred around 2pm at Okwudu in Otukpo Local Government Area, about two to three kilometres from Ohimini.

The family has called on the Benue State Government, the police and other security agencies to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the killing.

It also demanded answers on why what it described as a high-risk meeting was held without adequate security and without the presence of key stakeholders earlier mentioned.

The family said Muhammad was not just a Fulani leader, but a community figure who had worked for peace between herders and farmers in Benue State.

Meanwhile, the killing has drawn condemnation from political and community leaders in Benue South.

At a press conference in Makurdi, nine local government chairmen from Idoma land, alongside the Special Adviser to Governor Hyacinth Alia on Internal Security, described the murder as shocking.

The Chairman of Ohimini LGA, Gabriel Adole, said he was not in the state when the incident happened.

He said the meeting followed complaints from Awule community that some herders were allegedly preventing farmers from accessing their farms.

Adole said he advised the community to report the matter to the police, after which the DPO invited the parties for dialogue.

He admitted that neither he nor any traditional ruler attended the meeting, but insisted that the late MACBAN chairman had cordial relations with the people of Ohimini.

“The Ardo that we know is like a family in Ohimini LGA. It is the only LG where Ardo rides a bicycle from one place to the other. So we have a very good relationship,” Adole said.

He described the killing as an orchestrated criminal act and appealed to the Fulani community to remain calm while security agencies continue investigation.

“This plan is an orchestrated one. It was not done by my local government or any Idoma-speaking person,” he said.

The Chairman of Otukpo LGA, Prince Maxwell Ogiri, also said criminal elements were behind the attack and promised that the council would work with security agencies to apprehend those responsible.

The Chairman of Agatu LGA, James Melvin Ejeh, condemned the murder and described the late MACBAN chairman as a peace-loving leader.

He said the attack should not be blamed on the people of Ohimini, Otukpo or the Idoma nation.

According to him, the killing was carried out by enemies of peace who wanted to derail the progress recorded in the area.

He urged security agencies to go beyond promises and ensure that the killers are arrested, prosecuted and publicly identified.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Internal Security, Chief Joseph Har, also described the killing as unfortunate and unacceptable.

Har said the incident happened at a time Benue had recorded months of relative peace.

He appealed to the family, Fulani leaders and supporters of the deceased not to embark on reprisals, warning that such action would worsen the security situation.

In a related development, the Benue State Police Command said it had arrested 10 suspects in connection with the killing.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, identified the suspects as Titus Thyodenda, Utibe Sam, Owoicho Ameh, Sunday Useni, Sunday Ogbanje, Daniel Raphael, Adokole John, Samuel Ogazi, Agbo Daniel and Onazi James.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Cletus Nwadiogbu, commended tactical operatives for the arrests and assured residents that investigation was ongoing.

He said efforts were being made to arrest other persons linked to the murder.

The police appealed for calm and urged members of the public to provide useful information that could help the investigation.

MACBAN has also demanded justice over the killing.

The national president of the association, Baba Othman Ngelzarma, described the incident as a shocking attack on a peace advocate.

He said the late chairman had played an important role in promoting peaceful coexistence between herders and farmers in Benue State.

“The information came to us as a serious shock because we never expected this to happen,” he said.

Ngelzarma said MACBAN would not allow the matter to be swept under the carpet.

He urged the Benue State Government and security agencies to ensure that those behind the killing are brought to justice.

He also appealed to members of the association to remain calm and avoid reprisals.

“Two wrongs do not make a right. Members have to be law-abiding; they have to wait and see what we are going to do as an association,” he said.

Ngelzarma said the association would introduce fresh security measures for its leaders across the country.

According to him, MACBAN leaders would now be advised to screen invitations and send advance parties before attending meetings.

He said the killing should serve as a lesson to the association, adding that it had lost several state chairmen in recent years.

The Plateau State chapter of MACBAN also condemned the murder, describing it as cruel and senseless.

It called on security agencies to investigate the incident and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.