The Benue State chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has raised alarm over what it describes as increasing intimidation, cattle rustling, and threats to the lives of its members in some communities across the state.
In a statement issued in Makurdi on Sunday, the state chairman and secretary of the association, Ardo Risku and Ibrahim Galma, alleged that a member, Sanni Hassan, was killed last Tuesday at North Bank, Makurdi, by suspected Tiv youths.
The leaders of the association said that already, one of their members, identified as Sanni Hassan, was killed at North Bank, Makurdi, last Tuesday by suspected Tiv youths.
They also alleged that a total number of 1,185 cows were rustled between the middle of May and June 2, in Agatu and Guma Local Government areas of the state, out of which they said that police have recovered 162 cows.
The statement read partly, “In the middle of May, 2025, 150 cows belonging to Umar Rabiu and another 130 cows of another herder were rustled in Agatu LGA of Benue State.
“Recently, a total number of 905 cows and 54 sheep belonging to Abubakar Abdullahi, Babangida Hassan, Samaila Baba and Sanni Hassan were rustled on June 2, 2025, close to Yogbo community in Guma LGA of Benue State.
“Benue State Police Command intercepted the rustlers and recovered 162 cows, of which 33 were injured, leaving 743 cows and 54 sheep unrecovered.”
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The association regretted that while the owners of the cows came to Makurdi to claim the recovered ones by the police last Tuesday, “they were attacked along the expressway close to Laafia garage in North Bank by suspected Tiv youths, leading to the death of Sanni Hassan.”
They called on the state government, Benue State Police Command, and other security agencies in the state to investigate and arrest the killers of their member and the rustlers.
They also solicited support from the state government for their members whose cattle were rustled and the family of the deceased.
When contacted, the Chairman of Agatu LGA, Melvin James, said that he received the report and that security operatives were already investigating the matter and urged the association to be patient until the outcome of the investigation.
He said, “We received such reports that the police is investigating the matter, I urge the MACBAN to be patient until the outcome of the police investigation.”
Also contacted the spokesperson for the state command, DSP Udeme Edet confirmed the killing of a member of the association and rustling and recovery of some cows, but she did not give the total number of rustled and recovered cows.
She said, “It is true, the command has recovered some cows from rustlers and the killing of their members at North Bank.”
While appealing to criminals to desist from rustling of cows so as not to further heighten tension in the state, the PPRO, however, warned that the command would make sure that such people are made to face the wrath of the law.
