The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Benue State chapter, has urged the state government to investigate the alleged killing of a herder by youths in Otukpo Local Government Area.
The state chairman of the association, Alh. Risku Muhammad, made the appeal while speaking with journalists in Makurdi, saying more than 15 cows were also reportedly killed in the attack.
Muhammad warned that the development had created tension in the affected communities, stressing the need for urgent government action to prevent further unrest.
He said some youths from Otukpo-Nobi and Ondo-Ogobia communities allegedly attacked and killed a herder identified as Alh. Hassan Sule.
He said the incident occurred on Thursday when some youths from Otukpo-Nobi reportedly invaded a Fulani settlement and killed 15 cows.
According to him, Alhaji Sule, owner of the cattle, visited the settlement on Friday to assess the damage but was attacked and killed on his way back.
“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,” he said.
He added that herders were still at the scene when two youths emerged, apparently to remove the corpse, but fled upon sighting them.
“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 said.
The Chairman of Otukpo LGA, Hon. Maxwell Ogiri, confirmed panic in the area following the alleged killing but denied reports of cow killings, while the Benue Police Command spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, said she had yet to receive the report.