Ochetoha K'Idoma Forum Worldwide has condemned the killing of MACBAN Benue Chairman, Ardo Risku Mohammed, and Yakubu Isah in Ohimini, urging security agencies to ensure justice and warning against ethnic profiling.
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ABUJA, NIGERIA — July 4, 2026
The Ochetoha K'Idoma Forum Worldwide, the apex socio-cultural organisation of the Idoma Nation, has condemned the killing of Alhaji Ardo Risku Mohammed, Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Benue State, and Mr. Yakubu Isah, describing the incident as a tragic act that must not go unpunished.
In a statement jointly signed by its President General, Prof. Yakubu Aboki Ochefu, and Secretary General, Chief Paul Edeh, the forum called on security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation, identify those responsible, and ensure they are prosecuted in accordance with the law.
According to the organisation, the two victims had attended a peace and security meeting convened by the police before they were reportedly attacked and killed in Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State.
The organisation extended its condolences to the families of the deceased, the Fulani community in Ohimini and beyond, and all those who regarded Ardo Risku Mohammed as a respected leader.
It stressed that no grievance or historical disagreement could justify the taking of innocent lives.
We condemn this act in the strongest possible terms. There is no circumstance, no grievance, and no history that justifies the taking of innocent life. The men who carried out this killing must be identified, arrested, and prosecuted in accordance with the law, irrespective of their identity, community, or standing, the statement read.
While mourning the victims, the forum cautioned against attributing the actions of criminals to the entire Idoma ethnic group.
It maintained that criminal responsibility should remain individual rather than ethnic, noting that investigations should determine the identities and motives of those involved.
The organisation said it had consistently rejected attempts to stereotype all Fulani people over attacks committed by criminal elements and would equally oppose efforts to collectively blame the Idoma Nation for the actions of unidentified suspects.
Criminality belongs to no tribe and to no community. Justice that is selective is not justice, the forum stated.
The forum also lamented the prolonged insecurity affecting communities across Idomaland and other parts of Benue State, saying many villages have suffered repeated attacks over the past decade.
According to the statement, numerous farmers have been killed, families displaced, women assaulted, and communities devastated by persistent violence.
It criticised successive federal and state governments over what it described as inadequate responses to the worsening security situation despite repeated appeals through meetings, public engagements, and official correspondence.
Ochetoha K'Idoma urged the Federal Government, Benue State Government, Nigeria Police Force, and other security agencies to adopt more comprehensive, intelligence-driven security strategies capable of protecting all law-abiding residents, regardless of ethnicity or religion.
The organisation also appealed to citizens, media organisations, and public commentators to exercise restraint and avoid inflammatory narratives capable of escalating ethnic tensions.
It further urged Idoma people to remain peaceful, law-abiding, and cooperate with investigators, insisting that justice should be pursued through lawful means rather than retaliation.
The forum reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful coexistence, equal protection of every citizen under the law, and expressed hope that justice would prevail without fear or favour.
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