Benue State chapter of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) on Tuesday, alleged that they have lost over 70 cows and three sheep in the last one week in the state.

Addressing newsmen in Makurdi, Chairman of the association, Ando Risku Mohammed, stated that 20 cows were killed in Ohinmini; 22 cows were killed in Katsina Ala; and another 24 were killed in Guma LGAs of the state.

He further alleged that one of its men was missing in Ohinmini Local Government Area of the state when youths he claimed were members of the state-owned security outfit known as ‘Benue State Protection Guards’, invaded their settlement.

According to Mohammed, “Our members have been having problems with the civil protection guards and vigilante group in Ohinmini LGA since last Thursday.

“The problem started when they invaded our settlement, attacked our people in the process, one of our members is still missing, and three sheep and 30 cows were killed.

Reacting, the Chairman of Ohimini LGA, Adole Gabriel, said that the leadership of MACBAN had raised the issues with the council authority and submitted that investigation into the incident was ongoing.

The Chairman said that the police authority in the council was aware of the allegation.

“Those are the allegations the man (MACBAN leader) made when he called me few days ago, but we are yet to confirm it; but I can assure you that investigation into the matter is ongoing,” he said.

Also speaking on the issue, the Special Adviser to Governor Hyacinth Alia on Security and Internal Affairs, Joseph Har, exonerated the personnel of the state security outfit of any criminality in any part of the state.

The security adviser explained that personnel of the State Civil Protection Guards are meant to complement the conventional security operatives during operations across the state.

According to Har, “That is not true, our men do not go out for operations without the conventional security men; they are to complement the operations of the police and military during surveillance because they are familiar with their environment. So MACBAN cannot say that those killing their cows are our men.

Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer for the State Command, DSP Udeme Edet, said that the report from Ohinmini confirmed that one cow and one sheep were killed and added that a Fulani man was reportedly missing, adding that the police were still searching for him.

“There is no report of killing cows in Katsina Ala, but in Ohinmini, there was a report of the killing of a cow and a sheep.

“We also have a report that someone was missing and the police are still searching for the missing man,” Edet submitted. (Nigerian Tribune)