The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Benue State chapter, has strongly denied any involvement by its members in the recent deadly attack on Otukpo Nobi and surrounding communities in Otukpo Local Government Area.
In a statement issued on Monday by the association’s State Secretary, Ibrahim Galma, MACBAN condemned the attack that reportedly claimed around 16 lives in the early hours of Sunday. The group distanced itself from the incident amid allegations by residents that armed herders were responsible.
Galma stated that no Fulani residents had been living in Otukpo and its environs since they were forcefully evicted from the area last year. He noted that Otukpo Nobi and neighbouring communities already had existing communal disputes unrelated to herders.
The statement urged the public to avoid hasty conclusions and refrain from linking the incident to Fulani herders without proper investigation by security agencies. “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 said.
The association also called for calm among its members and the general public while appealing to authorities to monitor inflammatory comments on social media that could heighten tensions. It prayed for the repose of the souls of the victims and the restoration of peace in Otukpo and Benue State.
The denial comes as tensions remain high following the massacre, with various groups and leaders demanding swift justice and enhanced security in the region.
