MIYETTI ALLAH ALLEGES RUSTLING OF 340 CATTLE IN BENUE, DEMANDS JUSTICE AND COMPENSATION
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Benue State chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has alleged that at least 340 cattle belonging to its members were rustled in July across Agatu and Guma Local Government Areas of the state.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the association’s State Secretary, Ibrahim Galma, and made available to journalists in Makurdi, MACBAN claimed that criminal gangs, mainly operating from Agatu LGA, had extended their cattle rustling activities to neighbouring Kogi State.
“On July 19, suspected criminals from Eguma community in Agatu LGA rustled 73 cattle belonging to Sale Abubakar, and they remain missing,” the statement read.
Galma also alleged that on July 21, another gang from Agatu rustled 80 cattle belonging to Ardo Sarkin Fulani Bagana at the Kogi-Benue border. He noted that while 30 of the stolen animals were later recovered in Agatu, 50 remained unaccounted for.
“Again, on July 24, 213 cattle owned by Garah Mobaba were rustled by criminal youths from Agatu communities,” he added.
The association further reported that similar incidents were occurring in parts of Guma LGA, where herders have allegedly been attacked and their livestock seized or killed.
MACBAN called on the Benue State Government to investigate the incidents, prosecute those responsible, and compensate the victims to maintain peace between herders and farmers.
Responding to the allegations, the Chairman of Agatu LGA, James Melvin, acknowledged receiving reports of cattle rustling and urged security agencies to launch an investigation.
However, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security and Internal Affairs, Joseph Har, denied knowledge of any such incident in Agatu. He stated that in Guma, cattle were impounded after encroaching on farmlands, but were returned to herders once they paid for the damages.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command, DSP Udeme Edet, were unsuccessful as she did not respond to calls or messages at the time of filing this report.
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