Benue State Government officials and local government chairmen have condemned the killing of the Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in the state, Ardo Risku Muhammed, describing the attack as the handiwork of criminal elements determined to disrupt the prevailing peace.
Ardo Risku was reportedly ambushed and killed alongside an associate at Okwudu, Igoli in Otukpo Local Government Area while returning from a peace meeting in Ohimini LGA.
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the Special Adviser to Governor Hyacinth Alia on Security and Internal Affairs, Chief Joseph Har, said the Idoma people and the Benue State Government had no connection with the incident, urging security agencies to swiftly arrest those responsible.
He described the deceased as a strong advocate of peaceful coexistence and appealed to members of MACBAN not to embark on reprisal attacks, warning that such actions could undermine the peace recorded in the state over the past six months.
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Also speaking, Agatu LGA Chairman and Benue ALGON Chairman, Melvin Ejeh, condemned the murder, insisting it was carried out by criminal elements and not the Idoma people. He assured that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.
Similarly, the chairmen of Ohimini and Otukpo local government areas, Gabriel Adole and Maxwell Ogiri, described the killing as unfortunate and appealed for calm, stressing that the deceased had consistently promoted peace between herders and host communities.
The officials urged residents to remain law-abiding while security agencies continue investigations to apprehend those behind the attack.