The Ogobia-Ugboju community in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State on Wednesday denied allegations linking its members to the killing of a Fulani herder, Hassan Suleiman, popularly known as Alhaji Fodar.
Our correspondent reports that State chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Ardo Risku Muhammad, had earlier alleged that herders were attacked in two communities of Otukpo-Nobi and Ondo-Ogobia which resulted in the killing of a pastoralist on December 5, 2025 and the loss of livestock.
But, addressing a press conference in Makurdi on behalf of Ogobia-Ugboju, the National President of the Association of Ai-Onyilobagwu Community Development Association (AOCDA), ESV. Emmanuel Eije, said the incident which happened near the community was not perpetrated by its people.
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Eije also faulted a social media video by influencer Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), alleging that it presented a one-sided narrative that had exposed the community to fear and insecurity.
‘In the video, he alleged that the Fulani in Ogobia-Ugboju reached out to him regarding what they described as injustice done to them. This video, which is capable of inciting the government and security agencies against the peace loving people of Ogobia-Ugboju presented a one-sided story,’ he said.
He explained that the incident which happened on December 5, had nothing to do with Ogobia community because a combined team of police and soldiers on alert by the Fulani group went into a bush nearby Ogobia in search of Alhaji Fodar where they recover his body.
‘There was no suspect on sight where the body was found. The JTF successfully evacuated the body and the motorbike to Ogobia-Ugboju police station.
‘As they approached Ogobia, a hunter was seen heading home with his dogs from hunting expedition. On sighting the number of Fulani men and the security operatives who went in his direction probably to interrogate him, the hunter hastened his steps and vanished into the nearby bush.
‘The Fulani now seeing that the man was without reach, approach the nearby compound where a man, Audu John was seeing frying garri with his children and started dragging the man, in the process, they tore his clothes and visibly manhandled him…,’ he added.
Eije further said that the man who was handed over to the police for interrogation was later released after they founded him not involved in anyway, adding that the VDM misleading social media outing may have influenced his rearrest and being kept in police custody in Makurdi for the past two weeks.
The group therefore as a matter of urgency urged the police to do due diligence and release the alleged innocent man while demanding that VDM put up a second video to tell the world about what actually happened to save the Ogobia-Ugboju community from the wrong stigma caused by his single story and unfounded allegations.
‘The general public should ignore the one-sided story painted by VDM,’ the group stressed.
Earlier, the Police in Benue State said it commenced investigation into the murder of Alhaji Fodar who was reported to have been killed by unknown armed men.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Benue command, DSP Udeme Edet, in a statement, said no suspect was seen at the scene of the crime.
Edet noted that it was reported that one Alhaji Fodar was attacked and killed by a group of unknown persons in a bush area around Ogobia.
She said that a joint security team accompanied by some community members, proceeded to the scene where they found the lifeless body of the deceased with a deep cut on his neck and one motorcycle abandoned at the scene.
‘No suspect was seen nor arrested at the crime scene or anywhere along the route of the operation. However, while returning from the scene, some friends of the deceased who accompanied the joint team began pointing randomly at individuals in Ogobia town, alleging that they were responsible for the killing. The identification was emotional and based on mere suspicion and as such, no arrests were made. Mourners were advised to allow police conduct proper investigation that will lead to the arrest of the culprits,’ Edet had stated.
The PPRO however told our correspondent at the time of filling this report on telephone that she was not aware of Audu John’s rearrest.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
