Fear grips Ogobia community over murder of Fulani herder Alhaji Fodar

Residents of Ogobia community in Benue State have deserted the area in fear of reprisal attacks and heightened police operations following the killing of a Fulani herder, Hassan Suleiman, popularly known as Alhaji Fodar.

The Benue State Police Command confirmed that a thorough investigation into the incident has commenced. According to a report received at the Ogoli Divisional Headquarters on December 5, 2025, at about 8:30 a.m., Alhaji Usman Amodu, from Onyilaba Ukpobi in Ohimini Local Government Area, stated that Fodar was attacked and killed by unknown assailants in a bush near Ogobia.

A joint security team, comprising officers from the Nigerian Police Force, personnel of the Civil Protection Guard, the Nigerian Military, and some community members, visited the crime scene. They found the lifeless body of the herder with a deep cut on his neck and an abandoned motorcycle nearby.

No arrests were made at the scene, and although some friends of the deceased pointed fingers at certain individuals in Ogobia town, police cautioned that such claims were based on suspicion and not evidence. Mourners were urged to allow the police to conduct a proper investigation.

The Commissioner of Police, Benue State Police Command, CP Ifeanyi Emenari, PhD, assured the public that the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a thorough and professional probe to apprehend the perpetrators. He emphasized that the Command will remain impartial and warned the public against spreading misleading claims that could compromise peace.

The incident has left residents anxious, with many fleeing their homes, fearing reprisals or further violence. Authorities continue to appeal for calm and cooperation from the community as investigations proceed.