The Benue State Government and the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) have paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Benue State Chairman of MACBAN, Alhaji Ardo Risku Mohammed, as discussions continue online over the circumstances surrounding his death.
According to a statement posted on MACBAN’s official Facebook page on July 1, 2026, the delegation was led by the Deputy Governor of Benue State, Dr Sam Odeh, while MACBAN was represented by its National Secretary.
The association said the visit was to sympathise with the deceased’s family, relatives and community following what it described as his “tragic death.”
“The delegation reaffirmed the need for justice, peace, unity and encouraged the family to remain steadfast, assuring them that efforts towards ensuring accountability and lasting peace would continue,” the statement read.
MACBAN also prayed for the repose of the deceased’s soul, saying: “May Almighty Allah (SWT) forgive the shortcomings of the late Alhaji Ardo Risku Mohammed, grant him Al-Jannatul Firdaus, and give his family, the MACBAN family and the entire community the strength and patience to bear this irreparable loss.”
The statement was signed by Yusuf Abubakar, Senior Special Assistant on Digital Media and Publicity to the National President of MACBAN.
However, the post generated extensive reactions from Facebook users, many of whom questioned the circumstances surrounding Mohammed’s death and called for a thorough investigation.
One commenter, Davido Joseph Oligo from Lagos, questioned the whereabouts of other Fulani men who were reportedly with the deceased before the incident.
“Where are the Fulani men who accompanied this man to the meeting? What kind of emergency could have been so urgent that they left him behind?” he wrote.
He added that those individuals “should be investigated,” arguing that “their sudden departure raises questions that deserve answers.”
Oligo further stated that “a proper and impartial investigation should determine exactly what happened.”
Another commenter, George Terkimbi, questioned what he perceived as unequal attention to victims of violence in the state, asking: “Am asking [is] a life of one Fulani man worth more than the Tiv people’s in Yelewata?”
Similarly, Facebook user Ihyambe Isaac Aondoakaa said the association’s condolence visit had prompted broader questions about compassion for all victims of violence.
“For years, Benue has endured repeated killings and the displacement of countless families. During those difficult times, I cannot recall this association visiting displaced communities or publicly extending condolences on behalf of the association,” he wrote.
While expressing sympathy for Mohammed’s family, Aondoakaa argued that “every human life is precious, regardless of tribe or ethnicity,” adding that “justice, empathy, and accountability should never be selective.”
Another commenter, Lawal Suleiman, commended the visit, writing: “Thanks a lot to the Benue State Government and the delegate from the Sultan of Sokoto Caliphate.”
The online reactions reflect the wider public debate surrounding security, justice and intercommunal relations in Benue State, with many commenters calling for a transparent investigation into Mohammed’s death while also urging equal concern for all victims of violence across the state.
Authorities have yet to publicly announce the outcome of any investigation into the circumstances of the MACBAN chairman’s death.
