Benue community denies involvement in herder’s killing

The Ogobia-Ugboju community in Otukpo LGA of Benue State has denied allegations linking its members with the killing of a Fulani herder, Hassan Suleiman, popularly known as Alhaji Fodar. Our correspondent reports that the state Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Ardo Risku Muhammad, earlier alleged that herders were attacked in […]

The Ogobia-Ugboju community in Otukpo LGA of Benue State has denied allegations linking its members with the killing of a Fulani herder, Hassan Suleiman, popularly known as Alhaji Fodar.

Our correspondent reports that the state Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Ardo Risku Muhammad, earlier alleged that herders were attacked in two communities, Otukpo-Nobi and Ondo-Ogobia, which resulted in the killing of a pastoralist on December 5, 2025, and the loss of livestock.

But, addressing a press conference in Makurdi on behalf of Ogobia-Ugboju, the National President of the Association of Ai-Onyilobagwu Community Development Association (AOCDA), Mr Emmanuel Eije, said the incident which happened near the community was not perpetrated by its people.

Eije faulted a social media video by influencer, Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), alleging that it presented a one-sided narrative that had exposed the community to fear and insecurity.

He said, “In the video, he alleged that the Fulani in Ogobia-Ugboju reached out to him regarding what they described as injustice done to them. This video, which is capable of inciting the government and security agencies against the peace-loving people of Ogobia-Ugboju, presented a one-sided story.”

He explained that the incident, which happened on December 5, had nothing to do with Ogobia community because a combined team of police and soldiers, alerted by the Fulani group, went into a bush near Ogobia in search of Alhaji Fodar where they recovered his corpse.

He further said, “There was no suspect in sight where the body was found. The JTF successfully evacuated the body and the motorbike to Ogobia-Ugboju police station.

“As they approached Ogobia, a hunter was seen heading home with his dogs from a hunting expedition. On sighting the number of Fulani men and the security operatives who went in his direction, probably to interrogate him, the hunter hastened his steps and vanished into the nearby bush.

“The Fulani, now seeing that the man was without reach, approached the nearby compound where a man, Audu John, was seen frying garri with his children, and started dragging the man. In the process, they tore his clothes and manhandled him.”

He added that the man, who was handed over to the police, was later released after they found him not involved in any way, adding that the video misleading social media outing might have influenced his re-arrest and being kept in police custody in Makurdi for the past two weeks.

The group, therefore, as a matter of urgency, urged the police to do due diligence and release the “innocent” man, while demanding that the VDM put up a second video to tell the world about what actually happened to save the Ogobia-Ugboju community from the wrong stigma caused by his single story and unfounded allegation.

Earlier, the police said they had commenced investigation into the murder of Alhaji Fodar who was reported to have been killed by armed men.

Police spokesperson in the state, DSP Udeme Edet, in a statement, said no suspect was seen at the scene of the crime.

Edet said it was reported that one Alhaji Fodar was attacked and killed by a group of persons in a bush area around Ogobia, following which a joint security team, accompanied by some community members, proceeded to the scene where they found the corpse of the victim with a deep cut on his neck and a motorcycle abandoned at the scene.

He further said, “No suspect was seen or arrested at the crime scene or anywhere along the route of the operation. However, while returning from the scene, some friends of the deceased who accompanied the joint team began pointing randomly at individuals in Ogobia town, alleging that they were responsible for the killing. The identification was emotional and based on mere suspicion and as such, no arrests were made. Mourners were advised to allow police conduct proper investigation that will lead to the arrest of the culprits.”