The chairman of Miyetti Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Lere Local Government of Kaduna, Abubakar Abdullahi, has been killed by his abductors.

Othman Ngelzarma, the national secretary of the body, announced this via a statement on Saturday in Abuja

The deceased, aged 58, was killed by kidnappers on Friday, Mr Ngelzarma said.

“The death of Abubakar brings to five the number of MACBAN officials killed either by bandits, kidnappers or cattle rustlers this year across the country”, the statement said.

Mr Ngelzarma stated that Mr Abdullahi’s lifeless body was found by the roadside on Friday, after being kidnapped from his home in Lere on September 16 and ransom paid.

“While we condole with the family of the deceased, the Kaduna State Chapter of MACBAN, we call on the security agencies to properly investigate this and a lot of other dastardly acts across the country and bring the culprits to justice,” Mr Ngelzarma said.

The MACBAN national secretary decried the increasing level of insecurity faced by members of the association nationwide, either from rampaging bandits or kidnappers.

He said: “The challenge is making it almost impossible for our members to conduct their businesses in peace. This is partly responsible for the escalating cost of livestock and livestock products.

“If the insecurity continues, it might collapse the livestock industry in the country.

“We call on the Federal Government to, therefore, ensure that the new policies geared towards improved livestock production are properly implemented”, he added.

Killings occasioned by banditry have been rife in Kaduna and other parts of North-West and North-Central. Villagers and farmers have often been on the receiving end of the attacks of the marauding pillagers.

(NAN)