Another member of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Kwara State has fallen victim to targeted killings, intensifying concerns among Fulani herders.
The deceased, identified as Dabe, was shot dead by unknown gunmen on Tuesday night in Kanbi town, located along the Ilorin-Jebba highway in Moro Local Government Area.
His murder comes just days after the killing of MACBAN’s state chairman, Idris Abubakar, who was assassinated outside his residence in Oke-Ose, Oke-Oyi town, Ilorin East, on Saturday night.
The rising death toll among Fulani leaders has fueled fears of a deliberate attempt to eliminate those cooperating with authorities to combat crime within the herding community.
Dabe, who also worked as a vigilante, was ambushed and shot around 10 PM in an attack mirroring previous assassinations of MACBAN members.
His killing marks the fifth within a span of two weeks, with all the victims reportedly targeted for their stance against criminal elements operating under the guise of herders.
Reacting to the wave of killings, MACBAN’s state secretary, Mallam Abdulazeez Mohammed, described the situation as an orchestrated effort to suppress Fulani leaders taking a stand against crime.
He revealed that Abubakar had been under threat for months due to his collaboration with security agencies.
“He was warned multiple times to stop working with security forces, but he refused to yield. He wanted to cleanse our reputation, and they silenced him for it,” Abdulazeez stated.
Insiders within MACBAN claim that their leadership has become a prime target due to their firm opposition to cattle rustling, kidnapping, and banditry in the region.
Meanwhile, attempts to get a response from the Kwara State Police Command have been unsuccessful, as spokesperson DSP Ejire-Adeyemi Toun has yet to comment on the matter.