The Benue State chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has rejected claims that Fulani men arrested in Okpokwu Local Government Area of the state were kidnappers, insisting that they were innocent travellers on their way to visit relatives in Anambra State.
The association said the men became victims of mob action after being wrongly accused of involvement in a kidnapping incident that recently heightened tension in the community.
In a statement issued on Tuesday in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, MACBAN Chairman, Ardo Muhammad, maintained that the men had no connection with the abduction allegations circulating in the area.
According to him, the four Fulani men were travelling from Benue State to Onitsha in neighbouring Anambra State to visit family members when they came under attack.
“The four Fulani men arrested were travellers going from Benue State to Onitsha to visit their relatives. One of them managed to escape,” Muhammad said.
“The other three were severely beaten. One of them later died from his injuries at the scene, while the remaining two are currently receiving medical treatment.”
The incident followed reports that vigilant youths in Okpokwu Local Government Area had foiled an alleged kidnapping attempt and rescued five people said to have been held captive by suspected abductors.
According to accounts from the community, local vigilante members and youths mobilised after receiving information about the alleged abduction.
The suspects were reportedly pursued, forcing them to abandon their captives before fleeing the scene.
Authorities later announced that three individuals had been apprehended and handed over to the police, while another suspect reportedly escaped.
The development sparked relief among residents who had become increasingly worried about rising cases of insecurity and kidnappings in parts of the state.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Okpokwu Local Government Area, Adah Inalegwu, said the victims were rescued after local youths chased those suspected to be behind the abduction.
He explained that three persons were arrested the following day and transferred to security agencies for investigation.
However, he cautioned against drawing conclusions before the completion of police investigations.
“They are strangers in the community. It has not yet been confirmed if they were kidnappers, but they have been handed over to the police,” Inalegwu said.
His remarks appeared to suggest that authorities had yet to establish a direct connection between the suspects and the alleged kidnapping.
Despite this clarification, MACBAN expressed concern over what it described as the wrongful profiling of Fulani travellers.
Muhammad insisted that the arrested men were innocent and were targeted solely because of their ethnic identity.
He argued that the men had embarked on a peaceful journey and had no criminal intentions.
The association called on security agencies to carry out a thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
It also demanded that those responsible for attacking the travellers be identified and brought to justice.
“We urge the security agencies to investigate this matter thoroughly, apprehend those responsible for the attack and ensure justice is served,” Muhammad said.
He further dismissed allegations linking the men to kidnapping activities and warned against the dangers of stereotyping entire communities because of the actions of a few criminals.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the fragile security situation in Benue State and the growing mistrust among different ethnic groups.
Benue, often described as Nigeria’s food basket because of its agricultural output, has in recent years witnessed repeated security challenges ranging from communal clashes and attacks on farming communities to kidnappings and armed robberies.
The state has also experienced longstanding tensions involving farmers and herders, with disputes over land use and grazing rights sometimes degenerating into violent confrontations.
These tensions have contributed to deep suspicion between communities and have occasionally led to reprisals and mob actions.
Human rights advocates have also expressed concern over the increasing number of cases in which individuals accused of crimes are assaulted before investigations are concluded.
They note that presumption of innocence remains a fundamental principle of the law and should apply to all citizens regardless of their ethnic background or religion.
The latest incident in Okpokwu has therefore raised important questions about the balance between community vigilance and the protection of individual rights.
For residents of the area, the rescue of the alleged kidnapping victims was a welcome development.
However, the conflicting accounts surrounding those arrested have created uncertainty and highlighted the need for a transparent investigation.
As police continue their inquiries, many Nigerians will be awaiting official findings to determine whether the arrested men were indeed connected to the alleged kidnapping or whether they were innocent travellers caught in a tragic case of mistaken identity.
For now, one person has reportedly lost his life, two others are receiving medical treatment, and families on all sides are seeking answers.
The outcome of the investigation is expected to shape public understanding of the incident and may also influence future discussions on security, ethnic profiling and the dangers of mob justice in Nigeria.
Until then, calls for restraint, fairness and adherence to due process continue to grow as stakeholders urge authorities to allow facts, rather than assumptions, to determine guilt or innocence.