Gunmen have killed the Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Ardo Muhammad, along with another man, Yakubu Isah, in Otukpo Local Government Area of the state.
According to reports, Muhammad had earlier attended a peace meeting convened by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ohinmini Local Government Area on Friday, June 26, 2026. The meeting brought together Fulani herders and leaders of the Ayunne community following recent security concerns in the area.
However, while returning from the meeting, Muhammad and his companion were reportedly ambushed by gunmen at Okudu community in neighbouring Otukpo Local Government Area. Both men were killed in the attack.
Muhammad’s eldest son confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with journalists on Friday night, stating that his father was attacked and killed while travelling home from the peace meeting.
The Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, also confirmed the incident, saying the killings had heightened tension across the affected community and neighbouring areas.
“It is true that the Benue State chairman of MACBAN was killed within Otukpo Local Government Area this afternoon. The incident has created serious tension in the community and surrounding areas,” Ogiri said.
He appealed to residents to remain calm, assuring them that security agencies were responding to the situation.
The Chairman of Ohinmini Local Government Area, Adole Gabriel, explained that the slain MACBAN chairman had participated in a peace dialogue aimed at resolving tensions in Ayunne community, where several people were killed in an earlier attack.
“You are aware that there was a crisis in Ayunne community where some people lost their lives. The DPO of Ohinmini organised a peace meeting involving Fulani herders and members of the community,” Gabriel said.
“I was informed that the meeting ended successfully, but unfortunately, after leaving the venue, the MACBAN chairman and another person were ambushed by gunmen at Okudu community in Otukpo Local Government Area and killed.”
The spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, DSP Udeme Edet, confirmed the attack, saying the command had received reports of the incident and had launched an investigation.
Communities in Otukpo and neighbouring Ohinmini Local Government Areas have witnessed repeated attacks in recent months, with many incidents blamed on suspected armed herders, further worsening security concerns in the affected areas.
