Demands immediate, thorough and transparent investigation

‎By Malam Hassan Sani Indabawa

‎‎The Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN), Alh. Ardo Risku 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 of the state.

His brutal killing has generated wide condemnation and raised some fresh concerns on the peace efforts in Benue State.

A faith-based civil liberties group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has strongly condemned the brutal killing of Alhaji Ardo Risku Muhammad and demanded immediate, thorough and transparent investigation of the circumstances surrounding the gruesome killing of the pastoralists association chairman and his friend.

‎‎The condemnation was contained in a statement signed by the Kano State Chairman and the coordinator of MURIC’s northern states and Abuja, Malam Hassan Sani Indabawa on Sunday, 29th June, 2026.

‎‎The human rights organization explained further:

‎‎”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.‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).