At least 16 people were reportedly killed after suspected armed herders attacked Nobi community in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State in the early hours of Sunday, triggering protests by angry residents.
According to local sources, the attackers invaded the community before dawn and opened fire indiscriminately, forcing many residents to flee for safety.
The incident sparked widespread outrage as youths and women from the affected community marched through major streets in Otukpo to protest the killings.
The demonstrators also converged on the palace of the Och’Idoma, demanding urgent government intervention to halt the recurring attacks in the area.
As part of the protest, all major entry points into the ancient town were reportedly blocked, including the Enugu–Otukpo Highway and the Makurdi–Otukpo Road, disrupting movement in and out of the town.
One of the protesters, Comfort Inalegwu, narrated the ordeal during a telephone interview, alleging that the attackers stormed the community between 3:30 a.m. and 4:30 a.m.
“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,” she 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.”
She added that several other residents sustained injuries during the assault, while many others were still unaccounted for.
Inalegwu warned that women in the area would sustain their protests and resist any election activities unless decisive measures were taken to stop the persistent attacks on communities in Idoma land.
According to her, the continued bloodshed has left many residents living in fear, with families still searching for missing relatives following the invasion.
Efforts to obtain comments from the Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, were unsuccessful as he could not be reached as of the time this report was filed.
Reacting to the incident, Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia strongly condemned the killings, describing them as a cruel assault on innocent citizens and a direct attack on peace in the state.
His position was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula.
“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,” the statement read.
Governor Alia expressed sympathy with the affected families and the people of Benue South Senatorial District, assuring them that the government remained committed to protecting lives and property.
He saId, “Your lives are precious, and I can assure you that your ancestral lands will not be surrendered to fear.”
The governor stated that although the people of Benue had consistently demonstrated restraint in the face of repeated attacks, such patience should not be interpreted as weakness.
“My government stands firmly with you, and we will not allow our communities to be turned into killing fields,” he added.
Alia directed all security agencies operating within the state to strengthen collaboration with their counterparts in neighbouring states and intensify surveillance and patrol operations in vulnerable communities.
He also ordered security operatives to ensure the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the attack while deploying additional personnel to prevent further violence.
The governor appealed to residents to remain vigilant and continue providing credible information to security agencies.
“Security is a collective responsibility, and your information is a vital tool in our defence,” he said.
Meanwhile, attempts to obtain the reaction of the Benue State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, could not be reached before the time of filing this report.
