KATSINA, Nigeria – Suspected terrorists have killed Amadu Surajo, the Acting Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN also known as Miyetti Allah, in Katsina State, in an attack on Mai Rana village in Kusada Local Government Area.
The assailants, who struck late Saturday, January 4, 2025, night and into the early hours of Sunday morning, also killed three others and left several injured.
During the attack, the terrorists abducted Alhaji Surajo’s first and second wives, along with one of his daughters, an undergraduate at a public university.
According to sources, the first wife was later released by the attackers.
Surajo’s Role and Leadership Transition
Surajo had served as the Secretary of MACBAN in Katsina before being elevated to Acting Chairman following the mysterious disappearance of the former Chairman, Munnir Lamido, in June 2024.
Lamido vanished while travelling from Katsina to Kaduna, with his vehicle and phones later found abandoned near Maraban Jos. His fate remains unknown.
Surajo’s death comes as a major blow to MACBAN, an influential association in northern Nigeria, particularly during a period marked by escalating insecurity in the region.
Security Concerns and Speculation
The Kusada Local Government Area, where the attack occurred, has not been a known hotspot for banditry or terrorist activity, prompting speculation about the motives behind the attack.
While some see the incident as part of ongoing terrorism and banditry in the state, others have raised questions about potential targeted motives given Surajo’s prominent position within MACBAN.
Security operatives have been deployed to the area to restore order and investigate the attack.
Ongoing Insecurity in Katsina
Katsina State has been grappling with heightened insecurity in recent years, with numerous council areas facing persistent threats from bandits and terrorists.
However, Kusada has been relatively stable, making the attack on Mai Rana village particularly alarming.
The remains of Surajo and the other deceased victims are expected to be buried later on Sunday, January 5, 2025, according to Islamic rites.
Meanwhile, those injured in the attack have been hospitalized and are receiving treatment.
Police Statement Awaited
As of the time of this report, the Katsina State Police Command has not provided an official statement regarding the attack.
Efforts to reach the state police spokesperson, ASP Abubakar Aliyu, have been unsuccessful.
The incident underscores the ongoing challenges of insecurity in northern Nigeria and raises concerns about the targeting of prominent figures in the region.
