Gunmen on Friday killed the Benue State chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Risku Muhammad, and his friend, Yakubu Isah, shortly after a peace meeting in Ohinmini Local Government Area, according to police and local sources.
The attack occurred as Muhammad and Isah were returning from the meeting, which was aimed at resolving farmer-herder conflicts in the region. Police spokesperson SP Catherine Anene confirmed the incident, stating that an investigation is underway and no arrests have been made yet.
Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom condemned the killing, calling it a setback to peace efforts. The state has experienced recurring clashes between farmers and herders, with hundreds killed in recent years.
MACBAN national secretary Alhaji Baba Othman Ngelzarma described Muhammad as a peace advocate and urged authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice. The attack has heightened tensions in the area, with security forces deployed to prevent reprisals.
