Suspected Armed Herders Kill 15 In Renewed Wave Of Attacks On Benue Communities

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The authorities of Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State have strongly condemned the latest round of attacks and killings of no fewer than 15 persons in parts of the Council.

The victims were reportedly killed by suspected armed herdsmen who allegedly invaded Efeyi/Ugboju communities of the Local Council early Tuesday morning.

According to eyewitness accounts, while 14 people were killed in Efeyi-Ugboju, one was killed in the nearby community of Ipom-Ugboju earlier on Monday

There are, however, strong indications that the casualty figures could be  more, especially in Efeyi/Ugboju communities where  dead bodies according to locals are still being recovered, with several others said to have been seriously injured.

The attackers who were said to be heavily armed, reportedly operated for several hours, without any intervention from either conventional security agencies and or local vigilante groups.

“The attack started at about 5.00 am on Tuesday and lasted till 9 am. 14 people were slaughtered in Efeyi-Ugboju, while the armed herders responsible for the attacks killed another at Ipom-Ugboju on Monday”, a local volunteered.

While confirming the development, the Chairman of Otukpo Local Council, Hon Maxwell Ogiri, described the attack and killings as barbaric and unprovoked.

He further noted that 14 bodies have been recovered, with several individuals sustaining varying degrees of injuries.

“There was no provocation. They came only to shed blood and kill our people. 14 dead bodies have been recovered, while many others were wounded.

“The people are now living in fear, and there is great apprehension. Residents of neighbouring communities are already fleeing for safety”, Ogiri lamented.

This is as he expressed serious concern over the inability of security agencies to contain the  attacks and killings, wondering if there are actually sufficient presence of operatives in the affected areas.

The source reports that the twin Benue State Councils of Ohinimini and Otukpo have been visited with an orgy of violent attacks and bloodletting since the gruesome killings of the Chairman of the State’s Chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association MACBAN Ardo Risku Mohammad and his associate Yakubu Isah Mairiga on June 26 ,2026.

Although the authorities and the Fulani leadership have tended to downplay the widespread insinuations, the killing of the Miyetti Allah leader in Okukwu/Okudu community in Otukpo Local Government Area while returning from a peace and security meeting held in Ohinimini Local Council is believed to have triggered spates of attacks and reprisal attacks across the two councils.