Former Senator Shehu Sani has condemned the killing of a senior Miyetti Allah leader and his son in Benue State, describing the attack as a dangerous precedent for Nigeria’s ongoing peace efforts in the region.
The victims, identified as Ardo Risku Muhammad — chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Benue State — and a companion (variously reported by police as Yakubu Isah, and separately reported by a regional security outlet as his son, Ibrahim), were ambushed and shot dead on Friday while returning from a peace meeting in Otukpo Local Government Area. The meeting had been convened by the Divisional Police Officer of neighboring Ohinmini LGA to address recurring clashes between Fulani herders and the Ayunne community.
Police say the pair were attacked by gunmen along the Okudu–Ogoli road shortly after the meeting concluded. Benue State Commissioner of Police Cletus Nwadiogbu called the killings “senseless and criminal” and said tactical and intelligence units had been deployed to track down those responsible.
Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia also reacted to the killings, calling the timing especially troubling given the state’s recent progress toward reconciliation, and urged residents to remain calm rather than retaliate. MACBAN’s national leadership separately demanded a full investigation, warning that targeting community leaders engaged in peacebuilding undermines dialogue efforts across the state.
The killings add to a string of attacks in Otukpo and Ohinmini LGAs in recent months, where suspected armed herders and rival community factions have repeatedly clashed despite government-led mediation. No arrests have been announced.
