The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Benue State chapter, has alleged that some youths in Otukpo Local Government Area of the state killed one of their members.

The state chairman of the association, Risku Muhammad, made the allegation on Sunday while speaking with newsmen in Makurdi, adding that 15 cows were also killed.

He explained that the situation has created palpable fear in the local government and appealed to the state government to intervene.

According to him, a herder identified as Alhaji Hassan Sule was attacked and killed by some youths from Otukpo-Nobi and Ondo-Ogobia communities within Otukpo LGA.

Narrating how it happened, Muhammad said that trouble began on Thursday when some youths from Otukpo-Nobi reportedly invaded a Fulani settlement and killed 15 cows.

He 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.

According to him, “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.”

The MACBAN boss further claimed that while the herders were still at the scene, 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 alleged.

When contacted, the Chairman of Otukpo LGA, Maxwell Ogiri, who confirmed that there was apprehension in the area over the killing of the herder, said he was not aware of the killing of 15 cows.

Ogiri, who spoke to our correspondent via telephone on Sunday, said the council leadership and security operatives were doing everything within their powers to calm the situation, adding that the Idoma paramount traditional ruler, Och’Idoma, was also making efforts in the matter.

When contacted, the state command Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, said she had yet to receive the report. (Sunday Tribune)

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