The family of Alhaji Ardo Risku Muhammad, the late Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), is demanding a comprehensive investigation into his murder. Alhaji Muhammad and his associate, Yakubu Isah, were killed on Friday afternoon while returning from a peace meeting convened by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ohimini Local Government Area.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Sequence of Events

According to the victim’s eldest son, Muhammad Idris, his father had traveled to Idekpa by motorcycle to attend the police-arranged dialogue, which aimed to address complaints regarding cattle-related crop destruction. Idris noted several concerning details regarding the meeting:

• Key local stakeholders, including the traditional ruler and the Ohimini Council Chairman, were notably absent from the gathering.

• While the meeting concluded peacefully, the family suspects a targeted operation, noting that a suspicious tinted Hilux van was observed monitoring the group shortly before the fatal attack.

• The ambush occurred at approximately 2:00 PM in Okwudu, Otukpo Local Government Area—just a few kilometers from the meeting site—resulting in the deaths of the MACBAN leader and Mr. Isah.

Official Response and Appeals for Calm

The family has questioned the security arrangements for such a high-risk meeting and is urging the Benue State Government and the Nigeria Police Force to ensure a transparent investigation.

In a joint press conference in Makurdi, local government chairmen from Idoma land and Governor Hyacinth Alia’s Special Adviser on Internal Security condemned the act. Key takeaways from the officials included:

• Denial of Ethnic Targeting: Ohimini Council Chairman Gabriel Adole and Agatu Chairman James Melvin Ejeh emphasized that the murder was the work of “criminal elements” and enemies of peace, explicitly stating it was not a premeditated act by the local Idoma-speaking community.

• Commitment to Justice: Officials vowed to support security agencies in uncovering the perpetrators and insisted that the killers be identified and prosecuted.

• Plea Against Reprisals: Joseph Har, the Special Adviser on Internal Security, described the incident as unacceptable and urged the Fulani community to avoid retaliatory attacks, warning that such actions would only further destabilize the region’s recent period of relative peace.

In a distressing turn of events in Obanleku Community, Boki Local Government Area, the Cross River State Police have arrested Pastor Roman Samson and a woman, Agnes Peter, following the death of Agnes’s 13-year-old daughter, Nancy Peter. The incident occurred after Agnes took her daughter to the pastor, who leads the Goodness of Jesus Ministry, to be disciplined for allegedly stealing ₦30,000.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The investigation details reveal conflicting accounts of the tragic event:

• The Mother’s Account: Agnes claims she took Nancy to the pastor solely for counseling and prayer. She stated that after Nancy confessed to the theft, she left the pastor’s house to verify the location of the missing money, only to encounter the pastor rushing her daughter to the hospital upon her return. She firmly denies requesting that the pastor kill or physically harm the teenager.

• The Pastor’s Account: Pastor Samson, 45, alleges that the mother specifically requested that he discipline the girl for her repeated theft and habit of sleeping away from home. He admitted to using a horsewhip on the minor, claiming he stopped after 13 to 15 strokes when she became noticeably weak. He insisted he had no intention of killing the girl, whom he described as being like a daughter to him.

The Cross River State Police Command spokesperson, ASP Eitokpah Sunday, has confirmed both arrests and stated that an investigation is currently underway. Commissioner of Police Rashid Afegbua has reaffirmed the command’s dedication to maintaining public safety and urged the community to continue providing information to assist in the fight against criminality.

During a targeted intelligence-driven operation, officers from the Lagos State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit successfully recovered 47 sacks of military camouflage uniforms and 80 cartons of suspected illegal substances in Surulere.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶