Security adviser, 9 LGA chairmen blame criminal elements for Benue MACBAN leader’s deatih

Security adviser, 9 LGA chairmen blame criminal elements for Benue MACBAN leader’s deatih

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Condemnations have continued to trail the death of the Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN in Benue State, Ardo Risku Muhammed.

The MACBAN chairman was murdered together with his friend Yakubu Isah at Okwudu, Igoli Otukpo local government area while returning ffom a peace meeting in Ohimini local government area.

The Police have arrested 10 suspects in connection with the killings. 

Special Adviser on Internal Security to Governor Hyacinth Alia, Dr Joseph Har alongside the 9 local government chairmen of Benue south zone, on Sunday during a press briefing, totally condemned the assasination of Risku, saying that it is highly `unacceptable`

Har lamented that the death came at a time the state has been enjoying relative peace, observing that for the past six months, the state had not witnessed any bloodbath from armed herders attack.

He described the late Risku as an advocate of peace and consoled his family and members of MACBAN over his unfortunate demise.

He said, ‘We dissociate ourselves with this dastardly incident. It is not Idoma agenda or state but criminal element. We urge security agencies to work round the clock to identify his killers”.

The Security Adviser passionately pleaded with individuals or groups from taking the laws into their hands but remain calm and law-abiding

“I want to appeal to MACBAN members who are highly aggrieved not to take the law into their hands. Let the peace we are enjoying not be raptured.”

Also, the Deputy Chairman, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON Benue State chapter, Melvin Ejeh, who also condemned the killing, distanced the Idoma nation from the act.

He added that the killing was neither calculated nor premediated but the action of criminal elements bent on causing crisis in Idoma land.

Ejeh who is the chairman, Agatu local government, cautioned against any attempt to carry out reprisal as there would be grievous consequences

He said, “any reprrisal attack would affect innocent persons of Idoma land. No sensible person will kill Ardo Risku, we stand wirh the family and every Benue people. We will ensure that the culprits are apprehended and paraded in the full glare of the media” .

Chairman of Ohimini LGA Gabriel Adole explained that he had traveled to Lagos on the fateful day, and was boarding a flight back to Benue when the news of Ardo Risku’s death was broken to him.

Adole said he enjoyed peaceful relationship with the deceased, maintaining that he aIways preached peaceeful co-existence between the people and herders

He said, “his death is not orchestrated or done by any Idoma person. We beg to be allowed to fish out the perpetrators.”

His Otukpo counterpart, Maxwell Ogiri decsribed the death of the MACBAN leader, describing it as a ‘rude shock’, happening at a time when plans have been made to deepen peace in his council.

“We totally condemn the murder and assure the family of quick intervention to apprehend the culprits. In recent times, we have been engaging with him for peace. The elements who do not want this peace are responsible for this”.