Benue Boils: Community Protests With Corpses After Deadly Gunmen Attacks, Demands Justice

Residents of Otukpo Local Government Area in Benue State are in distress following fresh attacks by suspected armed invaders, which resulted in the killing of at least 10 people across two communities. The violence began on Saturday evening when attackers reportedly struck Akpachi village in the Ugboju community, claiming the lives of two farmers. In the early hours of Sunday, between approximately 3 am and 5 am, a second assault targeted Otukpo-Nobi, where eight more residents, primarily women and children, were brutally killed while most people were asleep. Several others sustained injuries, and witnesses suggest the death toll could rise as search operations continue for missing residents. The attacks have caused widespread panic, forcing residents of nearby communities like Emichi to flee and leaving students around the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (FUSHO), stranded.

In response to the horrific killings, angry residents and youths of Otukpo town staged a peaceful protest on Sunday. They carried some of the victims' bodies to the palace of the paramount ruler of the Idoma speaking people of Benue South Senatorial District, Och’Idoma, Dr. John Odogbo Eliagwu. The protesters vocally expressed their outrage and demanded urgent government intervention and improved security measures. Chanting phrases like, "How long will this continue? Will a man escape from his own ancestral land? We have lost hope in our politicians," they underscored the severity of their plight and their desperation for protection from the persistent bloodshed.

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, swiftly condemned the killings, describing them as "barbaric, inhumane" and a direct assault on the peace and security of the state. In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Tersoo Kula, Governor Alia confirmed that the attacks on Akpachi village and Otukpo-Nobi were perpetrated by suspected armed herders. The governor has since directed security agencies to immediately intensify surveillance and patrols within the affected communities and border areas. He also called for collaboration with security operatives in neighbouring states to ensure that those responsible for these heinous acts are tracked down, arrested, and prosecuted. Governor Alia assured residents that his administration would not allow Benue communities to be turned into killing fields and urged citizens to support security agencies with timely and credible intelligence. He also extended his deepest sympathies to the bereaved families and offered prayers for the speedy recovery of those injured.

Meanwhile, Senator Abba Moro, representing Benue South Senatorial District and serving as the Senate Minority Leader, also vehemently condemned the fresh attacks by alleged armed herders. He reiterated the details of the attacks on Akpachi (Ugboju-Ehaje) and Otukpo Nobi, expressing profound worry that such incidents are escalating instead of abating. Senator Moro voiced fears of a potential major crisis if the killings are not urgently addressed, emphasizing that the people cannot continue to endure such cold-blooded violence without recourse. He implored all levels of government and security agencies to prioritize and guarantee the security of lives and property for his constituents, as enshrined in the constitution.

In a separate but equally concerning incident, Senator Moro also condemned an ambush in Kogi State where mourners conveying the remains of his constituent, Augustine Ikwue, a Deputy Corps Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), were attacked. The convoy, en route to Ai-Ode, Upu community, in Otukpo LGA for burial, was ambushed, and several mourners were abducted. Senator Moro expressed shock at the audacity of attacking and kidnapping vulnerable people who were already grieving and mourning a loved one. He sympathized with the Ikwue family for their loss and the additional misfortune befalling friends and colleagues, urging security agents to pursue the kidnappers to rescue the traumatized victims. As of the time of reporting, security has reportedly been reinforced in the Otukpo area, though tension remains high as residents continue to mourn and demand decisive action to prevent further attacks.