The Benue state Governor Hyacinth Alia has condemned the recent attacks in Otukpo Local Government Area, by suspected armed herdsmen which claimed at least 18 lives, describing it as not only a breach of peace, but also a barbaric and inhuman assault on the sanctity of life.
He called on security agencies to ensure the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators and to deploy additional personnel and resources to protect vulnerable communities and prevent further attacks.
The governor also directed all security agencies operating in the state to liaise with their counterparts in neighbouring states, intensify surveillance and patrols across the affected communities and border areas.
Earlier the Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, while confirming the incident said the attacks appear to be linked to possible reprisals following the killing of the MACBAN chairman.
the first incident reportedly occurred on Friday when the attackers invaded Akpachi village in Ugboju community, killing two farmers on their farmland and Barely 24 hours later, the gunmen reportedly attacked Otukpo-Nobi community.
The latest killings came about two weeks after the murder of the Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Ardo Risku Mohammed, and his companion, Yakubu Isah, who were ambushed at Okutu community in Otukpo while returning from a peace meeting in Idekpa, Ohimini Local Government Area.
Following recent attacks, angry youths stormed the palace of the Och’Idoma with the corpses of victims, disrupting an ongoing church service and demanding urgent government intervention.
the youths accused authorities of failing to protect their communities and declared that they had reached their limit.
