Suspected armed herdsmen killed scores of residents in separate attacks on communities in Otukpo local government area of Benue State over the weekend, triggering protests and a strong condemnation from Governor Hyacinth Alia, who has directed security agencies to intensify patrols and pursue the attackers.
According to local sources, the violence began Saturday when suspected herdsmen attacked Akpachi village in Ugboju community, killing two people and injuring several others. Less than 24 hours later, attackers struck again, invading Otukpo Nobi community in the early hours of Sunday and killing eight more people, with several others injured. The attacks sparked protests by angry youths and residents, who marched to the Och’Idoma Palace in Otukpo town to voice their frustration over the worsening security situation and demand urgent government intervention. The latest violence comes barely a month after the killing of Benue State Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association Chairman Ardo Risku Mohammed and his associate Yakubu Isah near Okwudu in Otukpo, an attack that occurred after they had attended a peace meeting in Ohimini local government area.
In a statement from Press Secretary Tersoo Kula, Governor Alia condemned the attacks as a barbaric and inhuman assault on the sanctity of life and the collective soul of Benue’s people, saying suspected armed herdsmen invaded Akpachi Village in Akpa, Otukpo, between 3am and 4am while residents were asleep, killing scores and leaving many injured. He said he was particularly pained that the attacks occurred while the state government has been working closely with traditional rulers and security agencies to build lasting peace, calling the violence a direct attempt to sabotage the state’s progress. Alia shared in the grief and anger of Otukpo and the wider Benue South Senatorial District, telling residents their lives are precious and that their ancestral lands will not be surrendered to fear, while warning that the restraint Benue’s people have consistently shown must never be mistaken for weakness. My government stands firmly with you, he said, and we will not allow our communities to be turned into killing fields.
Alia directed all security agencies operating in the state to coordinate with counterparts in neighbouring states and intensify surveillance and patrols across the affected communities and border areas, instructing them to relentlessly pursue the perpetrators, secure their arrest and prosecution, and deploy additional personnel and resources to protect vulnerable communities from further attack.
