Cattle Dealers Urge Bauchi, Edo Governors To Intervene over Attack on Vigilante Group in Ekpoma

By Khalid Idris Doya 

The National Association of Cattle Dealers, Processors and Marketers of Nigeria (NACDPAMN) has called on the government to ensure justice over the gruesome killing of two Fulani herders from Kirfi Local Government Area of Bauchi State, which occurred recently in Ekpoma, Edo State.

In a statement issued during a press conference in Abuja, the association expressed deep shock and sadness over the incident, describing it as a cruel and unacceptable act.

NACDPAMN specifically appealed to the Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, to urgently engage his Edo State counterpart to ensure that justice is served and the perpetrators are brought to book.

The association also urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to order a prompt and thorough investigation into the matter, emphasizing that those responsible must face the full weight of the law.

Led by its National President, Alhaji Iliyasu Bulama, the association demanded that, upon conclusion of investigations, the bodies of the deceased be released to their families for proper Islamic burial rites, in line with their faith and cultural practices.

According to the association, the victims were peacefully moving with their cattle in search of pasture when they were intercepted by members of a local vigilante group in Ekpoma, who allegedly assaulted them, leading to the deaths of Musa Sale and Ahmadu Ibrahim, while others narrowly escaped.

Following the incident, family members and concerned community representatives reportedly approached the Commissioner of Police in Edo State and later the Divisional Police Officer in Ekpoma, seeking justice and information on the whereabouts of the victims. 

They were subsequently shown the corpses of the two men at a mortuary in Ekpoma, confirming their deaths.

The association, however, expressed regret that despite clear evidence and eyewitness accounts, there has been little or no progress in apprehending or prosecuting those responsible.

It warned that the inaction raises serious concerns about the safety of herders, traders, and other law-abiding citizens living or doing business in the area.

Alhaji Bulama described the killings as part of a disturbing pattern of extrajudicial actions by some vigilante groups in Edo State, adding that the situation must be addressed urgently to prevent further loss of innocent lives.

"It is a disturbing trend that must be stopped. The recent killing of hunters in Uromi remains fresh in our minds. All security and community policing outfits must operate strictly within the confines of the law," he stated.

He also appealed to members of the association nationwide, as well as the Fulani community, to remain calm and law-abiding as efforts continue to ensure justice through legitimate means.

Bulama reaffirmed the association’s commitment to peaceful coexistence and national unity, emphasizing that NACDPAMN stands for justice, peace, and the rule of law for all citizens, regardless of tribe or occupation.