The wave of targeted killings against members of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Kwara State has taken a troubling turn, as another prominent member of the herders’ union, identified as Dabe, was shot dead by unknown gunmen on Tuesday night. His assassination occurred in Kanbi town along the Ilorin-Jebba highway in the Moro Local Government Area, just days after the brutal murder of the association’s chairman, Idris Abubakar, who was gunned down outside his residence in Oke-Ose, Oke-Oyi town, Ilorin East Local Government Area, on Saturday night.
The killings have ignited widespread fear among Fulani herders in the state, with concerns mounting that these assassinations are systematic eliminations targeting leaders who have been actively cooperating with security agencies in efforts to combat criminal activities within their community. The recent murder is the fifth in two weeks, further escalating tensions and raising questions about the security situation in the region.
Reports indicate that Dabe, who was also a vigilante member, was ambushed and shot at approximately 10 PM. His murder follows a pattern eerily similar to other assassinations targeting MACBAN officials who have openly opposed criminal elements operating under the guise of cattle herding. Sources within the herders’ association believe the attacks are being carried out by criminal factions who view MACBAN’s cooperation with security forces as a direct threat to their illegal operations, including cattle rustling, kidnapping, and rural banditry.
Reacting to the latest killing, MACBAN’s Kwara State Secretary, Mallam Abdulazeez Mohammed, condemned the attacks, describing them as a deliberate effort to silence Fulani leaders who are fighting to rid the community of criminals. According to him, the assassinated chairman, Idris Abubakar, had been on the radar of these criminal groups for over five months before they finally executed their plot against him.
“Our chairman was assassinated because he stood against kidnapping and other criminal activities. He had been trailed by these criminals before they eventually ambushed him,” Abdulazeez stated.
The secretary revealed that before his murder, Abubakar had received multiple death threats from criminal elements warning him to withdraw his support for security agencies.
“They told him he would be eliminated if he didn’t back down. But he refused to compromise. He fought to clean our name and paid the ultimate price,” he added.
Concerns have now been raised over what appears to be a coordinated attempt to dismantle MACBAN’s leadership in Kwara, particularly those who have been vocal against crime and have taken measures to prevent criminals from operating under the cover of herding. Many within the association believe that these killings are an attempt to intimidate herders and weaken the collective effort to end criminality in the region.
Security experts have warned that if urgent measures are not taken, the continued targeting of MACBAN leaders could lead to further instability in the region. Many are now calling on law enforcement agencies to intensify investigations and bring the perpetrators to justice. The situation has also fueled calls for greater security presence in rural communities, as fears grow that the crisis could escalate further if left unaddressed.
Attempts to obtain a response from the Kwara State Police Command have so far been unsuccessful. The command’s spokesperson, DSP Ejire-Adeyemi Toun, has not responded to inquiries regarding the recent wave of killings.
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