A Benue-based security officer, Akir Abel, has dismissed as false and misleading a report circulating on social media alleging that Tiv residents were responsible for the killing of a Fulani man in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
In a statement shared on his Facebook page, Abel described the report, published by a page identified as Nigerian Military Gallery, as “fake news” and an act of blackmail aimed at inciting ethnic tension.
According to the officer, the deceased, identified as Saduna Lasar, was a Fulani cattle owner and businessman who was killed on 17 January 2026 by suspected Fulani bandits operating in the area, not by Tiv communities as claimed in the viral post.
Abel explained that on the morning of the incident, Lasar had travelled to Magungu Fadama to purchase cattle. After negotiating unsuccessfully for four cows due to the high price, he reportedly left the area on his motorcycle, heading towards Gbajimba.
He stated that the same herdsmen he had earlier negotiated with allegedly followed him on another motorcycle and intercepted him near a Tiv settlement known as Abaushaw. During a struggle over his bag, one of the attackers reportedly shot Lasar in the head, killing him instantly before fleeing with his motorcycle and belongings.
“The intention was to blackmail Tiv people and cause further crisis,” Abel claimed.
He further alleged that the suspects, identified as Haruna Jando, Musa Haruna, and Abdullahi Maiseje, are currently on the run following the incident.
The officer also accused the same criminal gang of being responsible for multiple attacks in the area, including the killing of two Tiv farmers on their farms in Iordye village and the murder of a woman during an attack on Gbajimba on January 18, 2026.
Abel added that, in an attempt to further escalate tensions, the group allegedly blocked the Akhor–Tomanin road at a later time and killed two Fulani herdsmen to frame Tiv communities.
He urged the public to verify information before sharing it and called on community leaders, including Fulani elders in Guma, to help expose criminal elements exploiting ethnic identities to fuel violence.
As of the time of filing this report, security authorities had not issued an official statement on the incident. However, residents have continued to call for decisive action to arrest those responsible and curb the spread of misinformation capable of worsening the fragile security situation in Benue State.
Security officer blames criminal herdsmen of killing Fulani man in Benue
