Benue State Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, has called on the government to investigate the alleged killing of a herder by some youths in Otukpo Local Government Area of the state
This was stated on Sunday by the state chairman of the association, Alh Risku Muhammad during a chat with journalists in Makurdi.
He said over 15 cows were also killed by youths in the area.
Mohammed explained that the situation has created tension in the area and called on the government to take measures to restore peace.
He said some youths from Otukpo-Nobi and Ondo-Ogobia communities within Otukpo LGA attacked and killed a herder identified as Alh Hassan Sule.
He said the incident occurred on Thursday when some youths from Otukpo-Nobi reportedly invaded a Fulani settlement and killed 15 cows.
Mohammed added that Alhaji Sule, who was the owner of the cattle, had visited the area on Friday to assess the damage when he was attacked.
“After inspecting the damages on Friday, he was returning when some youths from Ondo-Ogobia in Ugboju, Otukpo LGA, ambushed and killed him, but his son escaped and alerted other herders, who rushed to the scene and found Sule’s body,” he said.
He said the herders were still at the scene when two youths emerged from the Ondo direction, possibly to remove the corpse, but fled when they saw the herders.
“When the security operatives arrived, the suspect was handed over to them for further investigation.
“But after three hours, we heard that the police at Ogoli-Ugboju Divisional Headquarters had released him,” he said.
The Chairman of Otukpo LGA, Hon Maxwell Ogiri, who confirmed that there was panic in the area over the alleged killing of the herder, denied knowledge of killing 15 cows.
When contacted, the spokesman of the Benue State Police Command, DSP Udeme Edet, said she is yet to receive the report.