Idoma community condemns ‘hasty accusations’ over Ardo Risku’s death

The killing of the Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Ardo Risku Mohammed, and his associate, Yakubu Isah, has continued to generate widespread reactions, with some Idoma stakeholders cautioning against attempts to link the Idoma community to the attack before the conclusion of police investigations.

Ardo Risku and Isah were killed by unidentified gunmen while returning from a peace and security meeting in Benue State. The Benue State Police Command has since launched a full investigation and assured the public that those responsible would be identified and brought to justice.

Among those who reacted was activist Meddy Olotu, who criticised social media commentator D English Alhaji over a now-edited post that allegedly suggested the victims were killed by members of the Idoma community.

In a video message, Olotu described the claim as premature and dangerous, noting that no security agency had identified the perpetrators.

“Up till this very moment, we don’t know who carried out the attack. The police have not identified the group or persons responsible, yet some people are already painting the Idoma people as the perpetrators,” he said.

According to the activist, attributing the killings to an ethnic group without evidence could inflame tensions and expose innocent people to reprisals.

He argued that the fact the attack occurred in an Idoma community was insufficient to conclude that members of the community were responsible.

“What if those who carried out the attack had been tracking him from another state? You cannot simply conclude that because the incident happened in an Idoma area, the people of that community were responsible,” Olotu stated.

He urged members of the public to refrain from spreading unverified information and allow security agencies to conclude their investigation before assigning blame.

The controversy has also triggered mixed reactions following Governor Hyacinth Alia’s condemnation of the killings and his directive for security agencies to carry out a thorough investigation.

While some residents commended the governor’s swift response and called for justice for the slain MACBAN chairman, others questioned why similar urgency had not been seen following previous attacks and mass killings in parts of Benue State.

Several commenters argued that all victims of violence deserved equal attention and urged the government to ensure that every killing, regardless of the victims’ identity or background, receives the same level of investigation and commitment to justice.

Others, however, appealed for calm, warning against ethnic profiling and speculation while investigations remain ongoing.

Meanwhile, the Benue State Police Command has reiterated its commitment to conducting a thorough investigation into the incident and urged residents to remain peaceful and cooperate with security agencies by providing useful information that could aid the investigation.