About 10 people have been confirmed dead following separate attacks by suspected armed herdsmen on communities in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.
It was gathered that the latest wave of violence began on Saturday when suspected herdsmen attacked Akpachi village in Ugboju community, killing two persons and leaving several others with varying degrees of injuries.
Less than 24 hours later, the attackers reportedly struck again, this time invading Otukpo Nobi community in the early hours of Sunday, where eight persons were killed and several others injured.
The attacks also triggered protests by angry youths and residents, who marched to the Och’Idoma Palace in Otukpo town to express their frustration over the worsening security situation and demand urgent government intervention.
Confirming the attacks, the State Governor Hyacinth Alia in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Tersoo Kula expressed profound sadness and strongly condemned the early morning attacks by suspected armed herdsmen on Akpachi Village and the Otukpo-Nobi community in Otukpo Local Government Area.
He described the attacks 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 Governor was particularly pained that the attacks occurred at a time when the state government has been working closely with traditional rulers and security agencies to foster lasting peace and harmony.
He stated that “these acts of mindless bloodshed are a direct attempt to sabotage the progress of our state.”
Governor Alia shared 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.”
He warned that while the people of Benue have consistently demonstrated remarkable restraint and a commitment to peace, such restraint must never be mistaken for weakness.
”My government stands firmly with you, and we will not allow our communities to be turned into killing fields,” he stated.
Governor Alia also issued a clear and immediate directive to all security agencies operating in the state to liaise with their counterparts in neighbouring states and once again “swing into action” with renewed vigour by intensifying surveillance and patrols across the affected communities and border areas.
He further directed the security agencies to relentlessly pursue the perpetrators, ensure their arrest and prosecution, and deploy additional personnel and resources to protect vulnerable communities and prevent further attacks.
The Governor called on Benue residents to remain vigilant, saying: “We urge every citizen to cooperate with the police and military by providing timely and credible intelligence. Security is a collective responsibility, and your information is a vital tool in our defence.”
While sympathising with the bereaved families and praying for the speedy recovery of the injured, Governor Alia reassured all Benue citizens that his administration remains unwavering in its commitment to safeguarding lives and property.
The latest violence comes barely one month after the killing of the Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Ardo Risku Mohammed, and his associate, Yakubu Isah, around Okwudu in Otukpo Local Government Area after attending a peace meeting in Ohimini LGA.
(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
