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The Benue State chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has insisted that individuals recently arrested in connection with a kidnapping case were merely travellers and not members of any criminal gang. The association rejected allegations linking the suspects to abduction activities, arguing that the arrests were based on suspicion rather than credible evidence.
Speaking on behalf of the association, MACBAN officials said the arrested individuals were travelling through Benue State when they were intercepted by security personnel and subsequently accused of involvement in kidnapping. The group maintained that the suspects had legitimate reasons for their journey and urged security agencies to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation before drawing conclusions. According to the association, criminality should not be attributed to individuals solely because of their ethnic background or occupation.
The association further appealed for due process, stressing that every suspect is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law. MACBAN noted that insecurity remains a serious challenge in several parts of the country but warned against actions that could deepen ethnic tensions or stigmatize innocent people. It called on law enforcement agencies to rely on verifiable evidence and intelligence in their efforts to combat kidnapping and other violent crimes.
The development comes amid heightened security concerns in Benue State, where authorities have intensified operations against kidnappers, armed gangs, and other criminal groups. While investigations into the case continue, security agencies are expected to determine whether the arrested individuals were indeed innocent travellers or had links to the alleged kidnapping incident. The outcome of the probe is likely to attract significant public attention given the persistent security challenges facing communities across the state.
