Outrage as Suspected Herdsmen Kill 18 in Renewed Attack on Benue Community

• … Alia, Olofu, Aondoakaa Condemn Attack, Demand Justice

By Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

No fewer than 18 persons have been killed in a renewed attack by suspected armed herdsmen on Otukpo-Nobi community in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, sparking outrage and protests across the area.

Residents who spoke with journalists said the assailants invaded the community in the early hours of Sunday, shooting sporadically and killing several people while many others sustained injuries.
Confirming the incident, Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, disclosed that the latest killings were linked to a series of attacks that began on Friday, July 10, 2026.

According to him, two farmers were killed in Apachi village on Friday when armed men attacked them on their farms.

“You know, I am sure the news of the death of Ardo Risku Muhammad is no longer new to you, and if you understand the mindset of the people we are dealing with, you should also know that reprisals were likely to occur,” Ogiri said.

He explained that after the Friday attack, community members recovered and buried the victims on Saturday, believing security efforts had succeeded in flushing out the attackers from surrounding bushes.

“We had remained vigilant and thought we had combed the area thoroughly. But at about 4 a.m. on Sunday, we received reports that the attackers had besieged Otukpo-Nobi, killing several people and injuring many others,” he said.

Ogiri said local authorities were working to calm aggrieved youths and prevent retaliatory actions.

“They took the corpses of the victims to the palace of the Och’Idoma as part of their protest. When people are afraid, angry and feel helpless, you cannot completely control their reactions,” he added.

The council chairman initially confirmed 10 deaths two from Friday’s attack in Apachi and eight from Sunday’s assault on Otukpo-Nobi but residents and other sources put the casualty figure at over 18, with several others injured and receiving treatment.

He assured that survivors were being relocated to safer areas while security had been reinforced in the affected communities.

As of the time of filing this report, women, youths and other residents had taken to major streets in Otukpo, including the palace of the Och’Idoma, protesting the killings and demanding urgent government intervention.

One of the protesters, Mrs. Comfort Inalegwu, told journalists via telephone that the attack occurred between 3:30 a.m. and 4:30 a.m.

“Some Fulani herdsmen attacked Nobi community, shooting indiscriminately and forcing residents to flee. At least 16 people were killed during the attack. I lost my sister and two of her children. The attackers entered her house and shot them. Their bodies are now at the mortuary of the General Hospital, Otukpo,” she said.

According to her, several residents remain unaccounted for, while many of the injured are receiving treatment at the hospital.

Mrs. Inalegwu said women in the area had resolved to sustain their protests until concrete measures were taken to end the persistent attacks on communities in Idoma land.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Benue State Police Command, DSP Udeme Edet, said details of the incident were still being compiled.

“I’ll give details when I get them. Please bear with me,” she said in a brief response.

Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has condemned the killings, describing them as a barbaric assault on human life and the peace of the state.

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, the governor said suspected armed herdsmen invaded Akpachi Village in Akpa District of Otukpo LGA between 3:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m., killing scores of residents and injuring many others.

Governor Alia expressed concern that the attack occurred despite ongoing efforts by the state government, traditional rulers and security agencies to foster peace across Benue communities.

“These acts of mindless bloodshed are a direct attempt to sabotage the progress of our state,” he said.

The governor assured residents of Benue South that their ancestral lands would not be surrendered to fear and warned that the people’s commitment to peace should not be mistaken for weakness.

“My government stands firmly with you, and we will not allow our communities to be turned into killing fields,” he declared.

Governor Alia directed security agencies operating in the state to intensify surveillance and patrols, collaborate with neighbouring states, and pursue the perpetrators with renewed vigour.

He further ordered the deployment of additional personnel and resources to vulnerable communities while urging residents to provide credible intelligence to security agencies.

While sympathising with bereaved families and wishing the injured a speedy recovery, he reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) senatorial candidate and former Benue State Commissioner for Finance, Dr. David Olofu, also condemned the attacks and called on both the Federal and Benue State governments to prioritise the protection of vulnerable communities across Benue South.

In a statement, Olofu lamented the recurring attacks on Otukpo-Nobi, Akpachi-Ugboju and other communities in the district.

Describing the assaults as deliberate acts of aggression by marauders, he urged security agencies to rise to their responsibilities and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.

“Every necessary effort must be mobilised to secure our communities and preserve the sanctity of human life,” he stated.

Olofu extended condolences to the families of the victims and prayed for the peaceful repose of those killed.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2027 Benue election, Chief Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), described the attacks as barbaric, horrific and unacceptable.

In a statement signed by his Media Assistant, James Ian, Aondoakaa said the attackers invaded Akpachi Village while residents were asleep, unleashing terror on innocent and defenceless people.

He argued that the killings were not ordinary criminal acts but deliberate acts of terrorism against peaceful citizens living on their ancestral lands.

The former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice expressed condolences to the bereaved families and the people of Akpa, Otukpo-Nobi and the entire Otukpo Local Government Area

Aondoakaa noted that the latest incident highlighted the vulnerability of many Benue communities to violent attacks, leading to deaths, displacement and disruption of farming activities.

He stressed that the protection of lives and property remains the primary responsibility of government and called for urgent and decisive measures to stem the tide of violence.

The PDP governorship candidate urged authorities to strengthen security operations in vulnerable communities, improve intelligence gathering, deploy adequate personnel to flashpoints and ensure the arrest and prosecution of those responsible.

He lamented the growing frustration among Benue residents over recurring attacks and said the people deserved more than condolences after every tragedy.

“The blood of innocent victims cries out for justice,” Aondoakaa said, while assuring affected communities that they were not alone in their grief.