The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has commended Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State for his inclusive leadership, commitment to peaceful coexistence and efforts to protect residents irrespective of their ethnic and religious backgrounds.

The association also praised the governor for creating opportunities for members of the Fulani community to participate in governance through appointments into government positions, describing the gesture as evidence of his commitment to fairness, inclusion and unity.

MACBAN’s commendation followed its condemnation of alleged successive attacks on Fulani herders in Umumba community, Ezeagu Local Government Area, and neighbouring Owu community in Udi LGA, which reportedly resulted in the killing of 62 cattle and the disappearance or theft of several others.

In a statement issued by its National Deputy Director-General, Gidado Siddiki, the association disclosed that two Fulani herders, Bodo Damina and Mallam Nasiru Mohammed, were attacked by suspected assailants while grazing their cattle in Umumba on Monday, November 9, 2026.

Although the herders reportedly escaped, 25 cattle were allegedly killed during the incident.

MACBAN further disclosed that another attack occurred on Wednesday, November 11, in Owu community, where four herders identified as Umaru, Aliyu, Ibrahim and Babuga, sons of Dauji Haruna, were reportedly attacked while tending to their cattle.

According to the association, the attackers dispersed the cattle, with some allegedly stolen, while the four herders were initially declared missing.

They reportedly resurfaced on Thursday, November 12, only to discover that 37 of their cattle had been killed.

The association also expressed concern over reports of the killing of two commercial motorcycle operators in Umumba community during the incidents.

The Enugu State Police Command had yet to confirm or deny the allegations as of press time.

While condemning the attacks, MACBAN described the perpetrators as enemies of peace, innocent citizens and the collective efforts of the Mbah administration to guarantee the security of lives and property across the state.

It maintained that the alleged attacks were contrary to the governor’s vision of building a peaceful, inclusive and prosperous Enugu State where residents can live, work and conduct their businesses without fear or discrimination.

The association urged members of the Fulani community and other residents to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding, warning against reprisals or actions capable of escalating tensions.

It called on the state government and relevant security agencies to conduct comprehensive investigations, identify and prosecute those responsible, investigate the alleged theft of cattle and facilitate their recovery.

MACBAN also urged the authorities to strengthen security around Umumba, Owu and neighbouring communities while establishing sustainable security arrangements to protect farmers, herders, traders and other residents.

The association further appealed to the Fulani community to trust the government and security agencies to handle the matter through lawful and constitutional processes.

Reaffirming its commitment to peaceful coexistence, MACBAN said no individual should be targeted because of ethnic or religious affiliation, stressing that every resident of Enugu State deserves equal protection under the law.

It added that Governor Mbah’s inclusive governance approach should be sustained in the collective interest of peace, security and development, insisting that criminality must be condemned regardless of the identity of those involved.

Some Nigerians residing in the United Kingdom staged a protest outside Chatham House in London on Thursday, confronting the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, as he departed the venue.

A video circulating on social media captured several demonstrators surrounding a black vehicle believed to be conveying the INEC chairman, with some protesters pressing against the vehicle while holding placards and documents.

During the confrontation, the demonstrators were heard expressing their anger and making allegations against the electoral body chairman, with one protester shouting, “People are angry. This wicked, evil man, you are a criminal. Why are you running?”

The protest reportedly centred on concerns surrounding the credibility of Nigeria’s voters’ register ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The demonstrators raised allegations of irregularities in the electoral register, including claims that some entries were generated using artificial intelligence (AI).

They reportedly demanded accountability and expressed concerns about the integrity of the electoral process, insisting that the voters’ register must be credible and free from manipulation ahead of the forthcoming elections.

The incident has attracted attention on social media, with the circulating footage generating discussions about INEC’s preparedness, electoral transparency and public confidence in the commission ahead of the 2027 polls.

However, the allegations raised by the protesters have not been independently established in the information provided.

…Suspends planned town hall event, seeks ban on sign-out celebrations

Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has expressed deep grief over the passing on of four students of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), who reportedly died during an off-campus sign-out party for one of their friends, describing it as a heartbreaking loss.

Mbah described the incident as a grievous loss, not only for the deceased’s immediate families and UNN, but to Enugu State as a whole, and called for a ban on sign-out menace among undergraduates, noting that it had brought too many sorrows to families and tertiary educational institution in the country.

This was contained in a press statement released by the Governor’s media aide, Mazi Uche Anichukwu, on Thursday.

“I received with rude shock and deep sense of loss the news of the off-campus sing-out party leading to the death of four students of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, and hospitalisation of six others.

“This is a grievous loss not only to the immediate families of the deceased and the university, but also to us as a state. Losing them in their prime and along with their promising future cuts as deeply as a sharp knife. We, therefore share in this grief and pray God to grant their families, friends, and the UNN community the equanimity to bear the heartbreaking loss.

“Our hearts go out to their parents in particular, who sacrificed personal comforts to sponsor their children through the university, but only to face this sad turn of events.

“As a government, we have ordered a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding their deaths and will work closely with the university authorities and security agencies to get to the roots of the sad development and forestall a recurrence.

“In the meantime, I have suspended my scheduled town hall meeting with the UNN community on Friday, November 13, 2026, as we join the university in mourning the dead.

“Going forward, we will work with the authorities of tertiary institutions to enforce a full ban on sign-out parties and other excessive celebrations, a trend that has cost more lives and brought more sorrows than joy to families and higher institutions of learning,” the governor stated.

Mbah also called for more enlightenment campaigns by relevant agencies and institutions on the consequences of drug use and abuse.

He prayed for the peaceful repose of the souls of the deceased.