The Benue State chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has dissociated its members from the deadly attack in Otukpo Nobi, Otukpo Local Government Area, which reportedly claimed the lives of several residents.
The attack occurred in the early hours of Sunday and was said to have left about 16 people dead, with many residents alleging that the assailants were armed herders.
The incident triggered widespread outrage in the community as youths and women staged a protest to the palace of the Och’Idoma, carrying the bodies of some of the victims while demanding urgent government intervention.
Reacting to the development, MACBAN condemned the killings and rejected claims linking the attack to Fulani herders without the outcome of an official investigation.
In a statement issued on Monday and made available to journalists in Makurdi, the association’s State Secretary, Ibrahim Galma, urged members of the public to avoid making assumptions that could further inflame tensions.
According to him, security agencies should be allowed to carry out a comprehensive investigation before responsibility is assigned.
Galma maintained that Fulani residents had not been living in Otukpo and surrounding communities since last year following their eviction from the area.
“It is important for the public to note that all Fulani residents in Otukpo and its environs were forcefully evicted from the area sometime last year.
“This included their community leader in Otukpo, Chairman Yenusa, who left the state immediately after all efforts to restore peace in Otukpo failed following that incident,” the statement read.
The association further claimed that several communities within the area, including Otukpo-Nobi, Okete, Amla-Icho and Otada, had existing communal disputes before the latest violence.
“Secondly, it has come to our notice that Otukpo-Nobi and other communities in the same area such as Okete, Amla-Icho, and Otada already have pending communal clashes,” Galma added.
MACBAN also appealed to the public not to interpret the incident as a retaliatory attack connected to the recent killing of its state chairman, Ardo Risku.
The association warned that such conclusions could interfere with ongoing investigations by security agencies and worsen the already fragile security situation.
“Making such conclusions at this stage will only compromise the ongoing investigation being carried out by the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies,” Galma stated.
The group urged both its members and residents of the state to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding while security agencies continue efforts to determine those responsible for the attack.
It also called on law enforcement authorities to closely monitor discussions on social media, warning that inflammatory comments, unverified claims and hate speech could escalate tensions and frustrate peacebuilding efforts.
MACBAN expressed sympathy with families who lost loved ones during the attack and prayed for the peaceful repose of the victims.
The association also prayed for lasting peace across Otukpo, Benue State and other communities affected by recurring insecurity.
