The Benue State chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria has called for a thorough investigation into the killing of a Fulani traveller and the injury of two others in Okpokwu Local Government Area, alleging that the victims were attacked while on a personal trip to visit family members.
In a statement issued by the association’s state chairman, Ardo Risku Muhammad, MACBAN said four Fulani men were travelling from Benue to Onitsha on June 10 when they were allegedly ambushed in the Aokpe/Ugbokolo axis of Okpokwu Local Government Area.
According to the association, one of the travellers managed to escape the attack, while the remaining three sustained severe injuries. It said one of the injured victims later died, while two others are currently receiving medical treatment.
Condemning the incident, MACBAN urged security agencies to move swiftly against those responsible.
“We call on security agencies to act swiftly to arrest the perpetrators and ensure justice is served. This is necessary to restore order and rebuild confidence in the area,” the statement read.
The association also rejected allegations circulating on social media that the victims were connected to kidnapping activities, insisting that such claims were unfounded.
“Contrary to reports circulating on social media, these men were not involved in any kidnapping-related matter,” Muhammad said.
He maintained that the travellers were law-abiding individuals who were merely passing through the area when they came under attack.
MACBAN further alleged that the victims were targeted solely because they were Fulani, describing the incident as an unprovoked assault on innocent travellers.
However, local sources indicated that the incident may have occurred against the backdrop of heightened tension in the community following a separate kidnapping case.
Residents reportedly became suspicious after armed men believed to be herders abducted five persons in the area. The victims were later rescued by local vigilantes, prompting youths in the community to apprehend the Fulani travellers on suspicion that they might have links to the abduction.
Despite the suspicions, authorities say no connection has been established between the travellers and the kidnapping incident.
The Chairman of Okpokwu Local Government Area, Adah Inalegwu, said investigations were still ongoing and cautioned against drawing premature conclusions.
“They are strangers in the community. It has not yet been confirmed whether they were kidnappers, but they have been handed over to the police,” he said.
As of the time of filing this report, the spokesperson for the Nigeria Police Force in Benue State, Udeme Edet, had not issued an official statement on the incident.
The development has once again highlighted growing concerns over communal tensions, mob justice and security challenges in parts of Benue State, with stakeholders calling for calm while investigations continue.
(Ripples)