MACBAN denies Benue killings involvement, seeks probe

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Benue State has vehemently denied any involvement in the recent attack that claimed the lives of 16 people in Otukpo Nobi. The incident, which occurred early Sunday, saw residents alleging that armed herders were responsible, leading to a protest where victims' bodies were carried to the Ochidoma’s palace.

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It is important for the public to note that all Fulani residents in Otukpo and its environs were forcefully evicted from the area sometime last year.

In a statement released Monday, MACBAN's Benue State Secretary, Ibrahim Galma, condemned the killings and urged the public to avoid premature conclusions. He stressed that linking the incident to Fulani herders without proper investigation by security agencies would be unfair. Galma highlighted that all Fulani residents had been forcibly evicted from Otukpo and its surrounding communities the previous year, including their leader, Chairman Yenusa.

Galma further pointed to existing communal disputes as a potential factor, noting that Otukpo Nobi and neighboring areas like Okete, Amla-Icho, and Otada have a history of clashes. The association also cautioned against interpreting the attack as a reprisal for the recent killing of MACBAN Chairman Ardo Risku, emphasizing that such assumptions could jeopardize the ongoing police and security agency investigations.

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Secondly, it has come to our notice that Otukpo-Nobi and other communities in the same area such as Okete, Amla-Icho, and Otada already have pending communal clashes.

MACBAN called for calm and law-abiding behavior from its members and the public while investigations proceed. Galma also urged authorities to monitor social media for inflammatory comments that could escalate tensions. The association offered condolences to the victims' families and prayed for peace in Otukpo and Benue State.

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Making such conclusions at this stage will only compromise the ongoing investigation being carried out by the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies.