The National President of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Baba Ngelzarma, on Sunday, raised the alarm that leaders of the association are being targeted by killers, calling for government’s protection.

Ngelzarma, who spoke to The PUNCH, confirmed the killing of the MCBAN leader in Katsina State, Alhaji Amadu Surajo,on Saturday, noting that the incident happened only three months after Surajo’s predecessor was kidnapped and had not been seen.

“It is getting out of hand,”Ngelzarma said. “Our members who held leadership positions in Kogi, Benue, Nasarawa and Katsina have been targeted by gunmen. Surajo was just three months in that position; his predecessor was kidnapped and we never heard anything about him. We call for the federal and state governments to ensure the protection of our members wherever they are.”

Suspected bandits killed the acting Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria in Katsina State, Alhaji Amadu Surajo, late Saturday at Mai Rana village in the Kusada Local Government Area of the state.

The assailants also killed three others and injured several people during the attack.

The incident occurred late Saturday night and continued into the early hours of Sunday when the hoodlums stormed the village.

The PUNCH gathered that the bandits kidnapped two of Surajo’s wives and one of his daughters, who is an undergraduate at a public university in the country.

However, a source familiar with the incident, speaking on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, revealed that the hoodlums later released Surajo’s first wife.

Before his death, Surajo served as the state Secretary of MACBAN before being elevated to acting Chairman of the Katsina State chapter of the association.

Reports indicate that Surajo’s rise to the acting chairman position followed the mysterious disappearance of the association’s National Vice President and Katsina State Chairman, Munnir Lamido, in June 2024.

Lamido reportedly left his residence in Katsina on June 23, 2024, for Kaduna State.

He informed his family during a phone call that he had stopped in Zaria to eat at a restaurant.

However, his whereabouts became unknown hours later. His vehicle and two phones were later recovered near Maraban Jos, just before entering Kaduna town.

He was declared missing by security operatives days later, and his whereabouts remain unknown.

Following Saturday’s incident, security operatives have been deployed to the community to restore peace and investigate the attack.

The remains of Surajo and the other deceased victims are expected to be buried later on Sunday morning in accordance with Islamic rites.

Meanwhile, the injured are receiving medical treatment.

Though Kusada Local Government Area was not previously considered a hotspot for insecurity in Katsina State, the attack has raised concerns. Some observers speculate whether the incident was an act of terrorism or had other motives beyond banditry.

Meanwhile, the Katsina State Police Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Abubakar Sadiq, told our correspondent in a telephone interview that he had yet to receive a briefing on the incident.

“I am yet to get the briefing, and once I do, I will let you know,” the PPRO said.