The Benue State Police Command has arrested seven additional suspects in connection with the murders of Ardo Risku Mohammad, chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria in the state, and Yakubu Isa. The two men were killed in an ambush on June 26, 2026, near Okudu community as they travelled back from a peace meeting in Ohimini local government area.
Among those arrested are four traditional rulers: Chief Morgan Ejaga, 43; Chief Moses Anteyi, 45; Chief John Ogli, 58; and Chief Yawuhu Adaji, 49. The other suspects are Sylvester Ajonye, 80; Aba Alexander Uloko, 59; and Fidelis Iduma, 45.
The Benue State Police Command's public relations officer, DSP Udeme Edet, announced the arrests in a statement released over the weekend on behalf of Commissioner of Police Cletus Nwadiogbu. He said the breakthroughs came after sustained intelligence work and ongoing investigations by police operatives.
"Following sustained intelligence gathering, painstaking investigation and continuous tactical operations, an additional seven suspects have been arrested in connection with the case," the statement read. It noted that officers conducted intelligence-led operations to apprehend the suspects.
Nwadiogbu commended the investigating and tactical teams for their commitment and professional approach to the case. He said their persistent efforts had continued to yield results in the high-profile investigation.
The police commissioner promised that the probe remained active and that everyone involved in the killings would be held accountable. "Every person found to have participated directly or indirectly in the commission of the crime will be identified, apprehended and prosecuted in accordance with the law," he said.
Nwadiogbu called on residents to remain patient and keep providing the police and other security agencies with reliable and timely information. He stressed that the Benue State Police Command remained dedicated to securing justice for the victims and preserving peace and order across the state.
