The Benue State chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has dissociated its members from the deadly attack in Otukpo-Nobi, Otukpo Local Government Area, which claimed the lives of about 16 people.
The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday, sparked outrage in the community, with residents alleging that armed herders were responsible for the killings.
LEADERSHIP reports that following the incident, grieving youths and women staged a protest at the Ochidoma’s palace, carrying the bodies of some of the victims to demand justice and improved security.
Reacting to the allegations, MACBAN, in a statement issued on Monday by its Benue State Secretary, Ibrahim Galma, condemned the killings and called for a thorough investigation before attributing responsibility to any group.
The association urged the public to refrain from linking the attack to Fulani herders without the outcome of investigations by security agencies.
According to Galma, there had been no Fulani settlement in Otukpo and surrounding communities since last year, following the eviction of herders from the area.
“It is important for the public to note that all Fulani residents in Otukpo and its environs were forcefully evicted from the area sometime last year.
“This included their community leader in Otukpo, Chairman Yenusa, who left the state immediately after all efforts to restore peace in Otukpo failed following that incident,” the statement read.
MACBAN also claimed that Otukpo-Nobi and neighbouring communities, including Okete, Amla-Icho and Otada, had longstanding communal disputes that predated the latest violence.
“Secondly, it has come to our notice that Otukpo-Nobi and other communities in the same area such as Okete, Amla-Icho, and Otada already have pending communal clashes,” the association stated.
The group further cautioned against suggestions that the attack was a reprisal for the recent killing of its state chairman, Ardo Risku, insisting that such claims were premature.
“Making such conclusions at this stage will only compromise the ongoing investigation being carried out by the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies,” Galma said.
MACBAN appealed to its members and residents of the state to remain peaceful and law-abiding while security agencies investigate the incident.
It also urged authorities to monitor inflammatory comments on social media, warning that the spread of unverified information could escalate tensions and frustrate efforts to restore peace.
The association expressed condolences to the families of the victims and prayed for the repose of those who lost their lives, while calling for lasting peace in Otukpo and Benue State.
