No fewer than 16 people were reportedly killed by suspected armed herders in Nobi community, Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State in the early hours of Sunday.
Local sources said the armed herdsmen stormed the community in the early hours of Sunday and unleashed terror.
Angered by the development, youths and women from the community took to major streets in Otukpo, including the palace of the Och’Idoma, to protest the killings.
As of the time of filing this report, the protesters had blocked all entrances into the ancient town, including the Enugu–Otukpo and Makurdi–Otukpo roads.
According to one of the protesters, who identified herself as Comfort Inalegwu, “Some Fulani herdsmen, between 3:30 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. today, attacked Nobi community in Otukpo, shooting sporadically, which made residents flee.
“At least 16 people were killed this morning during the attack. I lost my sister and two of her children in the attack. The Fulani entered her house and shot them. Their corpses are now at the morgue of Otukpo General Hospital.”
Inalegwu, who said several people were also injured during the attack, threatened that women would continue to protest and ensure that elections were not held in the area unless the government stopped the incessant killings of innocent people in Idoma land.
She added that many people were still missing as of the time of speaking.
Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, could not be reached for comment as of the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the killings, describing them as “not only a breach of peace, but also a barbaric and inhuman assault on the sanctity of life and the collective soul of the people of Benue State.”
The condemnation was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Govermor, Tersoo Kula.
The statement partly read, “The suspected armed herders reportedly invaded Akpachi Village in Akpa, Otukpo Local Government Area, between 3:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. while residents were asleep. The attackers killed scores of people, while many others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
“These acts of mindless bloodshed are a direct attempt to sabotage the progress of our state.”
Expressing sadness over the attack, Governor Alia said, he “shares in the grief and anger of the people of Otukpo and the entire Benue South Senatorial District,” saying, ‘Your lives are precious, and I can assure you that your ancestral lands will not be surrendered to fear.’”
Alia said the people of the state had consistently demonstrated remarkable restraint and commitment to peace but warned that such restraint must never be mistaken for weakness.
While consoling the people of Otukpo, the Governor said, “My government stands firmly with you, and we will not allow our communities to be turned into killing fields.”
He directed all security agencies operating in the state to liaise with their counterparts in neighbouring states and to “swing into action” with renewed vigour by intensifying surveillance and patrols across the affected communities and border areas.
He also called on security agencies to ensure the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators and to deploy additional personnel and resources to protect vulnerable communities and prevent further attacks.
While calling on Benue residents to remain vigilant, the governor urged every citizen to cooperate with the police and military by providing timely and credible intelligence, saying, “Security is a collective responsibility, and your information is a vital tool in our defence.”
State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, could not be reached as of the time of filing this report.
