The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Benue State chapter, on Sunday, raised the alarm of intimidation, cattle rustling and threat to life in some communities in the state.

The association mourned the killing of one of its members, identified as Sanni Hassan, who it said was killed at North Bank, Makurdi, last week, by suspected Tiv youths.

Leaders of the association in the state, Ardo Risku and Ibrahim Galma, chairman and secretary respectively, stated this in a statement made available to journalists in Makurdi, on Sunday.

They also alleged that a total number of 1,185 cows were rustled between May 15 and June 2, in Agatu and Guma local government areas of the state, out of which they said police recovered 162.

Tension has continued to mount in the state following clashes between farmers and herders, resulting in multiple deaths and repeated attacks on communities.

Residents have staged protests, accusing herders of causing harm and killing their people.

However, in a statement on Sunday, the herders claimed they were being harassed and intimidated in the state, including the rustling of their cattle.

The statement read, “In the middle of May 2025, 150 cows belonging to Umar Rabiu and another 130 cows of another herder were rustled in Agatu LG of Benue State.

“Recently, a total number of 905 cows and 54 sheep belonging to Abubakar Abdullahi, Babangida Hassan, Samaila Baba and Sanni Hassan were rustled on June 2, 2025, close to the Yogbo Community in Guma LG of Benue State.

“The Benue State Police Command intercepted the rustlers and recovered 162 cows, of which 33 were injured, leaving 743 cows and 54 sheep unrecovered.

The association regretted that while the owners of the cows travelled down to Makurdi to claim the recovered ones by the police on Tuesday, “they were attacked along the expressway close to Lafia garage in North Bank by suspected Tiv youths, leading to the death of Sanni Hassan.

The herders called on the government, police and other security agencies in the state to investigate and arrest the killers of their members and the rustlers.

They also solicited support from the government for their members whose cattle were rustled and the family of the deceased.

When contacted, the Chairman of Agatu LG, Melvin James, stated that he received the report, adding that security operatives were already investigating the matter.

He called for patience on the part of the association until the outcome of the investigation.

He said, “We received such reports and the police are investigating the matter. I urge the MACBAN to be patient until the outcome of police investigation,” he said.

Also, the spokesperson for the state police command, DSP Udeme Edet, confirmed the killing of a member of the association and the recovery of some cows but she did not give the total number of rustled and recovered cows.

She said, “It’s true, the command has recovered some cows from rustlers and a member of the association was killed at North Bank.”

The police warned criminals to desist from cow rustling to de-escalate the tension in the state.

https://punchng.com/miyetti-allah-alleges-1000-cows-rustled-in-benue/