Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
MAKURDI, Nigeria — The Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Ardo Risku Muhammad, and his associate, Yakubu Isah, have been killed by suspected gunmen in an ambush in Otukpo Local Government Area, just hours after they attended a peace and security meeting convened by the police. The attack, which occurred at approximately 2 p.m. on Friday, June 26, 2026, has sent shockwaves through the state and drawn a fierce condemnation from Governor Hyacinth Alia, who has ordered an immediate and thorough investigation.
The victims were returning from a security meeting in neighbouring Ohimini Local Government Area, which had been organised by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Idekpa to discuss measures aimed at improving security and fostering peaceful coexistence among communities. According to sources, they were ambushed by armed assailants along the Okudu-Ogoli Road in the Okudu community of Otukpo LGA, where they were shot multiple times and killed instantly.
The deceased's eldest son, Idris Muhammad, confirmed the incident, stating that the family had recovered the bodies and buried them in Oyangede. "They killed my father, the Ardo, and his associate, Yakubu Isah, while they were returning from the peace meeting organised by the DPO in Ohimini. We have recovered their bodies and buried them in Oyangede," he said.
The attack has heightened concerns over the worsening security situation in Benue State, where repeated attacks by armed groups have claimed numerous lives, displaced thousands of residents, and deepened tensions among farming and herding communities. Community members described the killing as a tragic setback to ongoing efforts to promote dialogue and peaceful coexistence. Some stakeholders also warned against ethnic profiling in the aftermath of the attack, urging Nigerians not to hold entire communities responsible for the actions of criminal elements. They stressed that security efforts should focus on identifying, arresting, and prosecuting those directly responsible for violent crimes.
Reacting to the incident, Governor Hyacinth Alia expressed deep shock and sadness, describing the killing as a direct attempt to undermine the hard-earned peace and reconciliation his administration had worked tirelessly to foster. In a statement issued on Saturday by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Tersoo Kula, the governor emphasised that the killing of any community leader or peace advocate is a blow to ongoing dialogue among various stakeholders. "It is deeply regrettable that this unfortunate incident occurred shortly after a security meeting," the statement said.
Governor Alia issued a firm directive to all relevant security agencies to launch a thorough and transparent investigation immediately, leaving no stone unturned in fishing out the perpetrators and bringing them to justice swiftly to serve as a deterrent to others seeking to destabilise the state. He urged all members of MACBAN and the general public to remain calm and law-abiding, adding: "We must not allow those who profit from chaos to succeed in inciting further violence or disrupting the peace we have taken time to build."
The Benue State Police Command has also condemned the killing, describing it as a senseless criminal act capable of undermining ongoing peace and security efforts. In a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, the Commissioner of Police, CP Cletus Nwadiogbu, expressed deep concern and assured residents that the command had commenced a full-scale investigation. "The Command will not leave any stone unturned to ensure that the culprits are arrested and prosecuted," Nwadiogbu stated, adding that tactical and intelligence assets had been deployed to track down those responsible.
The national leadership of MACBAN has also demanded a comprehensive investigation. In a statement signed by its National President, Baba Othman Ngelzarma, the association described the killing as a "dastardly and deeply disturbing act," noting that the circumstances surrounding the attack raised concerns about possible premeditation. MACBAN also expressed concern over an earlier attack on one of the deceased's children, said to be a lawyer, who was allegedly attacked in a village last week, and called for both incidents to be subjected to a transparent investigation.
The killing of the MACBAN chairman comes less than a year after the acting chairman of the Katsina State chapter of MACBAN was murdered by gunmen, highlighting the growing security challenges facing members of the association in different parts of the country. As investigations continue, the people of Benue State are left to grapple with the grim reality that even peacemakers are not safe from the violence that has plagued the region.
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