The Benue State Police Command has arrested 10 suspects in connection with the gruesome killing of the Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Benue State, Ardo Risku Mohammed, and another victim, Yakubu Isa.
The arrests were made on the night of Saturday, June 27, 2026, during a coordinated operation carried out by the Command’s tactical teams in Otukpo Local Government Area following intensive intelligence gathering and sustained tactical operations.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Udeme Edet, confirmed the development in a statement, describing the arrests as a major breakthrough in the ongoing investigation into the killings.
According to the statement, the suspects arrested include Titus Thyodenda, 25; Utibe Sam, 20; Owoicho Ameh, 18; Sunday Useni, 21; Sunday Ogbanje, 46; Daniel Raphael, 23; Adokole John, 24; Samuel Ogazi, 32; Agbo Daniel, 25; and Onazi James, 30.
The Commissioner of Police in Benue State, CP Cletus Nwadiogbu, commended the officers and tactical teams involved in the operation for their swift response and professionalism, noting that the Command had made significant progress in unraveling the circumstances surrounding the attack.
“The Command has made significant progress in the ongoing investigation. Ten suspects have so far been arrested in connection with the incident following intensive intelligence and tactical operations,” the Commissioner said.
He assured residents that investigations were still ongoing, adding that security operatives had intensified efforts to identify, track and arrest other individuals linked to the crime.
“The Command remains committed to ensuring that all those found culpable are brought to justice in accordance with the law,” he added.
CP Nwadiogbu also appealed to members of the public to remain calm and continue cooperating with security agencies by providing credible and timely information that could assist ongoing investigations.
He reiterated the commitment of the Benue State Police Command to protecting lives and property across the state, stressing that the police would continue to sustain efforts aimed at maintaining peace, law and order.
The late MACBAN chairman, Ardo Risku Mohammed, and Yakubu Isa were reportedly ambushed and killed by armed men on Friday at Okudu community in Otukpo Local Government Area while returning from a peace meeting convened by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Idekpa, Ohimini Local Government Area.
The attack sparked widespread condemnation, with stakeholders warning that the killings could undermine ongoing peace efforts between farming and herding communities in Benue State.
The latest arrests are expected to boost confidence in the police investigation as authorities continue efforts to apprehend all those responsible for the killings and ensure they face prosecution.
