At least 16 people have been killed and several injured after suspected armed herdsmen attacked communities in Otukpo and Kwande LGAs of Benue State.
At least 16 people have reportedly been killed and several others injured in fresh attacks on communities in Benue State, with suspected armed herdsmen blamed for separate incidents in Otukpo and Kwande Local Government Areas.
The latest Benue attacks, which reportedly took place between Monday and Tuesday, have heightened fear among residents, with some locals said to have fled their communities in search of safety.
The attackers were also accused of taking away motorcycles reportedly abandoned by farmers as they escaped from the violent incidents.
14 Killed in Otukpo Community attack
The deadliest of the reported attacks occurred in the early hours of Tuesday at Efeyi community in the Ugboju District of Otukpo Local Government Area.
According to local authorities, the attackers stormed the community at about 4am and allegedly opened fire on residents. At least 14 people were reportedly killed, while several others sustained gunshot injuries during the attack.
The Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, confirmed the incident and said 14 bodies had been recovered.
He added that several injured victims were receiving medical attention after sustaining injuries during the attack.
Ogiri said the victims were attacked despite there being no known provocation or immediate confrontation that could have triggered the violence.
“Fourteen dead bodies have been recovered, and many others are wounded. There was no provocation; it was simply to shed blood and kill innocent people,” the council chairman said.
Residents flee as fear spreads
The latest attack has reportedly created widespread panic in the affected area, with residents of nearby communities said to be leaving their homes over fears of further violence.
Ogiri expressed concern over the growing tension, saying the security situation had become a source of serious apprehension among residents.
“The people are afraid, and there is great apprehension. Residents of neighbouring communities are already fleeing,” he stated.
The council chairman also questioned why attacks continued despite the presence of several security agencies in Otukpo.
According to him, the military, police, mobile police personnel and agro-rangers are among the security formations operating in the local government area.
He called for stronger government action to address the recurring violence, particularly through the enforcement of Benue State’s anti-open grazing law.
“There are many security agencies in Otukpo, including the military, police, mobile police and agro-rangers. I do not know if they are not enough. Government must deliberately enforce the state’s anti-open grazing law because everything is tied to it,” Ogiri said.
He further argued that issuing eviction notices to alleged illegal occupants would not be enough to resolve the security challenges without proper enforcement.
“The eviction notice given to illegal occupants cannot achieve anything without proper enforcement, and our people will continue to lament if nothing is done,” he added.
Injured victims receive medical treatment
Ogiri disclosed that he was at the teaching hospital awaiting the arrival of some of the victims who sustained injuries during the attack.
He explained that some of the injured residents had initially received first aid at a local health facility before being referred to the teaching hospital for further medical care.
The council chairman described the incident as part of a disturbing pattern of sporadic attacks allegedly targeting communities in the area.
When asked who was responsible for the violence, Ogiri attributed the attack to what he described as militia herdsmen.
“It is still the same militia herdsmen. There was no issue and no provocation. They have been attacking communities sporadically in recent days, and the casualty figures keep increasing,” he said.
However, he noted that the local government does not control the operational activities of the security agencies deployed to the area.
“Security personnel are in Otukpo, but I do not determine their operations. My responsibility is to provide them with accommodation and logistics,” Ogiri explained.
Police deploy operatives to affected community
The Benue State Police Command has confirmed that an attack occurred in one of the affected communities.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Edet Udeme, said police officers had been deployed to the area to restore calm and begin investigations into the incident.
“The police are aware of an attack that occurred in a community during the early hours of today. Police officers have been deployed to the scene. They are taking necessary steps to restore calm and commence a thorough investigation into the incident,” Udeme said.
He added that the police were closely monitoring the situation and would provide additional information as investigations progressed.
The police spokesperson, however, did not confirm the casualty figure reported by the Otukpo council chairman.
As a result, the official number of people killed and injured in the latest Benue attacks remains subject to further confirmation by security authorities.
Renewed concerns over insecurity in Benue
The fresh violence has renewed concerns over insecurity in Benue State, particularly in rural communities where residents depend heavily on farming for their livelihoods.
Repeated attacks in farming communities have raised fears about the safety of farmers and the potential impact of insecurity on agricultural activities and food production.
Residents and local authorities have continued to call for stronger security measures to protect vulnerable communities and prevent further attacks.
As security agencies investigate the latest incidents, tension remains high in the affected areas, while residents are hoping that increased security operations will prevent further violence and restore confidence among communities across Otukpo, Kwande and other parts of Benue State.
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