Ardo Risku Muhammad, chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Benue State, was killed in an ambush at Okwudu in Otukpo Local Government Area. His associate, Yakubu Isah, died alongside him. The attack occurred at exactly 2:00pm as they returned from a meeting convened by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ohimini LGA. Muhammad Idris, son of the deceased, confirmed the incident and stated that his father and Isah had attended the meeting with community members and herders to address tensions over herding activities.
The meeting, according to Chairman of Ohimini LGA Gabriel Adole, was productive and ended peacefully. He confirmed that Muhammad and Isah left the meeting but were later killed within Otukpo LGA. Adole described the gathering as a peace effort between herders and locals who had previously raised concerns about herder movements in their communities.
Maxwell Ogiri, Chairman of Otukpo LGA, confirmed the killings took place in his jurisdiction. He acknowledged rising tension in the area and appealed for calm, stating that efforts are ongoing to maintain peace. Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Benue, DSP Udeme Edet, confirmed the incident, though no arrests or suspects were mentioned.
The MACBAN chairman attended a police-convened peace meeting meant to reduce conflict, yet was killed hours later in a separate local government area. His death exposes the fragility of dialogue when security along rural routes remains unaddressed. The same officials who praised the meeting's success now oversee a community bracing for retaliation. Peace talks cannot substitute for visible security in high-risk zones.
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