Benue MACBAN Sounds Alarm: 70 Cows Killed, Member Missing—Who’s Responsible?

By: Oluwaseun Lawal

Trouble’s brewing in Benue State. The Miyeiti Ala Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) is shouting out loud. Seventy cows. Three rams. Gone. Dead. And that’s not all—one of their own has vanished in Ohimini Local Government Area.

Ando Risku Mohammed, the chairman of MACBAN, didn’t mince words. He pointed fingers at the State Civil Protection Guard and local vigilante groups. According to him, these security folks raided a Fulani settlement in Ohimini, killing 30 cows and three sheep, and making one member disappear. But that’s just the start. He also accused them of killing 22 cows in Katsina Ala and 24 more in Guma.

“Our members have been under attack since last Thursday,” Mohammed said. “The Civil Protection Guards and vigilantes stormed our settlement, attacked our people. One member is still missing. It’s a nightmare.”

But not everyone’s on the same page. The Chairman of Ohimini LGA, Adole Gabriel, confirmed MACBAN raised the alarm but said investigations are still ongoing. “We’re looking into it. Police are aware. We can’t confirm everything yet,” he said cautiously.

Then there’s Joseph Har, Special Adviser on Security to Governor Hyacinth Alia. He defended the Civil Protection Guard, saying they never operate alone. “They work alongside police and military. They know the terrain. MACBAN’s claims don’t add up,” Har insisted.

The police spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, gave a different picture. She confirmed only one cow and one sheep were killed in Ohimini, and a Fulani man is missing. “No killings reported in Katsina Ala,” she said. “We’re still searching for the missing person.”

So, what really happened? The story’s still unfolding. But one thing’s clear—tensions are high, and the cattle breeders want answers. The community waits, watching closely, hoping for justice and peace.