The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria’s (MACBAN) Kaduna State chapter has charged local government representatives and certain military personnel of involvement in the “targeted killing and persecution” of Fulani herders in Southern Kaduna.
The association denounced what it described as “a recurring pattern of violence, injustice, and betrayal” against its members in the region in a forcefully worded statement headlined “A Betrayal of Justice,” which was signed by its chairman, Alhaji Abdulhamid Musa Albarka, and provided to Arewa PUNCH.
According to MACBAN, on September 28, 2025, armed militiamen ambushed four herders—Suleiman Idris, Yusuf Abdullahi, Hamidu Dauda, and Ibrahim Hassan—at Tanda Village in Jema’a Local Government Area as they attempted to enter an ancient livestock trail that local groups had allegedly blocked.
The organisation claims that the attack was unprovoked and planned.
Their sole “crime” was to enquire as to why their well-established cattle passage had been illegally closed.
“Yusuf Abdullahi, Hamidu Dauda, and Ibrahim Hassan suffered severe and permanent injuries in the ensuing violence, while Suleiman Idris was brutally murdered in cold blood,” the statement said.
The group claimed that following the incident, the victims’ cattle—which were referred to as “the only means of sustenance for their families”—were dispersed over the forest.
“This was not a miscommunication or an unplanned altercation,” Albarka stated, adding that it was a planned, intentional attack on defenceless, defenceless civilians with the intention of destroying their community and means of subsistence.
Additionally, MACBAN charged Hon. Peter Tanko Dogara, the Chairman of the Jema’a Local Government Council, with obstructing police investigations and impeding attempts to prosecute the offenders.
The group asserted that the council chairman’s alleged meddling “amounted to a gross abuse of office and a subversion of justice,” even if the Divisional Police Officer in Kafanchan had made admirable efforts to apprehend those guilty.
“It is regrettable that the chairman failed to visit the victims or condole with the bereaved families,” the statement continued.
Albarka urged,
“His prejudice and apathy are unworthy of a public servant. This local plot has damaged public trust and put His Excellency, Governor Uba Sani’s peacebuilding initiatives in jeopardy, even though his administration has demonstrated a commitment to dialogue and reconciliation.
The group also accused several military officers involved in Operation Safe Haven, which oversees security in Plateau State and Southern Kaduna, of being careless and failing to fulfil their duties.
MACBAN claimed that security officers refused to send soldiers in spite of intelligence reports about potential attacks on Fulani settlements and disregarded warnings of escalating tension in Tanda.
The statement emphasised that “this omission directly enabled the murder of Suleiman Idris and the grievous wounding of others.”
Such behaviour is a betrayal of the constitutional commitment to safeguard all citizens without discrimination, in addition to a breach of duty. Justice is killed and confidence in national institutions is destroyed when soldiers ignore acts of violence.
The association questioned what it described as “the persistent silence, selective response, and absence of accountability” in addressing such killings, a direct reference to the Chief of Defence Staff, who is from the area.
In addition to expertise, perceived fairness and balance are essential for leadership in such a delicate capacity. To allay growing fears of sectional loyalties, the Defence Headquarters needs to reevaluate its stance in Southern Kaduna, Albarka said.
He called on the National Security Council and the Presidency to make sure that no official permits personal or ethnic ties to affect security operations.
MACBAN demanded swift investigations and security reforms in a list sent to the federal government, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, and President Bola Tinubu.
The group asked President Tinubu to establish a judicial commission of inquiry to look into the killings and the suspected involvement of security personnel and local officials. In order to guarantee justice and responsibility, it also demanded a thorough examination of the national security architecture, with a focus on the OPSH command structure.
Consequently, the group went on to
asked the President to “reprimand, redeploy, or retire” any security personnel who have aided in the rise of violence in Southern Kaduna through their actions or omissions.
Additionally, MACBAN urged Governor Uba Sani to suspend Peter Tanko Dogara, the chairman of the Jema’a council, until the conclusion of an inquiry into his alleged involvement in obstructing justice.
In order to rebuild trust across all communities, we implore His Excellency, Governor Uba Sani, to strengthen the peace and reconciliation frameworks you have started, the statement continued.
The group also called for the disarmament of armed groups in the region, reparations for the victims’ families, and the proper deployment of security forces to guard susceptible communities.
“Compromise commanders and rogue officials are undermining Governor Uba Sani’s peace initiative, and their silence feeds division,” MACBAN stated.
We reiterate our dedication to discussion and peace, but we maintain that the dead cannot be used as a foundation for peace. The delicate peace in Kaduna would irreparably collapse unless justice is served, Albarka said.
