Herdsmen Photo credit: Vanguard
•••Residents Protest
By Abdullahi Abubakar
Suspected herdsmen have attacked the Nobi community in the Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State killing 16 persons in the process.
The killings sparked outrage among residents, with scores of women and youths barricading key entry points into Otukpo town on Sunday, including the Makurdi–Otukpo and Enugu–Otukpo highways, as well as roads leading to the palace of the Och’Idoma.
The protesting residents demanded urgent government intervention over the persistent attacks on communities in Benue South.
The PUNCH reports that a resident of the area, Comfort Inalegwu said that the attackers invaded the community between 3:30am and 4:30am, firing indiscriminately and forcing terrified villagers to flee their homes.
She said at least 16 people lost their lives in the assault, including her sister and two children.
“Some Fulani herdsmen, between 3:30am and 4:30am today, attacked Nobi community in Otukpo, shooting sporadically, which made residents flee,” Inalegwu said.
“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.”
According to her, several other residents sustained injuries during the attack, while many remained unaccounted for as of Sunday.
Inalegwu warned that women in the area would sustain their protests and resist any election activities unless authorities took decisive steps to end the repeated killings in Idoma communities.
Reacting to the attack, Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the killings, describing them as a brutal assault on the people and a deliberate attempt to undermine peace in the state.
In a statement issued on Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, the governor said the attackers reportedly invaded Akpachi Village in Akpa, Otukpo Local Government Area, while residents were asleep.
“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,” Kula stated.
“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.”
Governor Alia said he shared the pain and anger of the victims’ families and residents of Benue South, assuring them that his administration would not allow criminal groups to overrun their communities.
“My government stands firmly with you, and we will not allow our communities to be turned into killing fields,” he said.
The governor directed security agencies to strengthen collaboration with neighbouring states, intensify surveillance and patrols in vulnerable communities, and ensure those responsible for the attack were arrested and prosecuted.
He also appealed to residents to remain vigilant and support security agencies with timely and credible intelligence to help prevent further attacks.
The latest attack added to the growing wave of deadly violence linked to suspected armed herders in Benue State, where repeated assaults on farming communities have claimed hundreds of lives in recent years and displaced thousands of residents despite repeated assurances by authorities to improve security.
