MURIC condemns gruesome murder of Benue MACBAN Chairman, demands “transparent investigation”
By KEMI KASUMU
The DEFENDER reports that Alhaji Ardo Muhammad was murdered in a gruesome manner on Friday 26th June, 2026, while returning from a peace meeting convened by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ohinmini Local Government Area of Benue State.
Nigeria’s faith-based civil liberties organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has strongly condemned the brutal killing of Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN), Alhaji Ardo Risku Muhammad.
The condemnation, which came with a demanded for immediate, thorough and transparent investigation of the circumstances surrounding the gruesome murder of the pastoralists association chairman and his friend, was contained in a statement signed by Chairman Kano State and Coordinator of MURIC in the 19 Northern States and Abuja, Malam Hassan Sani Indabawa on Sunday, 29th June, 2026.
The DEFENDER reports that Alhaji Ardo Muhammad was murdered in a gruesome manner on Friday 26th June, 2026, while returning from a peace meeting convened by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ohinmini Local Government Area of Benue State.
His brutal killing has generated wide condemnations and raised some fresh concerns on the peace efforts in the North Central state.
In statement sent to The DEFENDER on Monday June 29, MURIC explained further that, ”We have received with shock the brutal killing of Alh Ardo Risku Muhammad and his friend on Friday 26th June, while returning from a peace meeting.
“His body was reported to have been cut into pieces, in a gruesome manner, after being shot by some cowardly anarchists, whose sole aim was to undermine the peace process and attract reprisals.
”The slain pastoralists leader is a well-known respected community leader, peace advocate and a philanthropist.
“His killing in the manner he was murdered was an invitation to chaos and bloodshed as he was no ordinary community leader.
”It is therefore necessary for the security agencies to do all what it takes to investigate and fish out those responsible for the dastardly act and let them face the full force of the law for their attempt to sabotage the ongoing peace efforts before other aggrieved parties wade in with brutal and deadly reprisals.
”We recall the fact that larger killings and counter killings in Benue and Plateau States were caused by these kind of targeted ethnic and religious killings
“The intention of these anarchists was to ensure the religious and ethnic divisions of the North, for their own destructive motives.”
We therefore charge the security agencies to find those responsible for this dastardly act within a reasonable period of time.
