The Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Benue State, Ardo Risku Muhammad, and his associate, Yakubu Isah, were shot dead by gunmen in an ambush in Otukpo Local Government Area on Friday, June 26, 2026, just hours after attending a police-convened peace meeting.
The attack occurred around 2:00 p.m. near the Okudu community as the pair were returning from a security dialogue in Ohinmini Local Government Area. The meeting, organised by the Divisional Police Officer of Ohinmini, brought together Fulani herders and representatives of the Ayunne community to address recurring violence.
Muhammad’s eldest son, Idris Muhammad, said the meeting ended peacefully before the two men were ambushed and killed on their way home.
Otukpo Local Government Chairman Maxwell Ogiri described the killings as disturbing and urged residents to remain calm, while Ohinmini Chairman Adole Gabriel confirmed that the late MACBAN chairman had attended the peace meeting.
Benue State Police Command spokesperson DSP Udeme Edet said the command had launched an investigation into the attack and was working to identify and arrest those responsible. No arrests had been made at the time of the report.
