Benue Bleeds Again: 18 Feared Dead as Fresh Attack Sparks Outrage

By Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

At least 18 people have reportedly been killed following a renewed attack by suspected armed herdsmen on Otukpo-Nobi community in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, triggering widespread outrage and protests across the area.

Residents said the attackers stormed the community in the early hours of Sunday, opening fire indiscriminately and killing several persons, while many others sustained injuries.
Confirming the incident, Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, said the latest attack was connected to a series of violent incidents that began on Friday, July 10, 2026.
According to him, two farmers were killed in Apachi village on Friday after 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 stated.
He explained that following Friday’s incident, residents recovered and buried the victims on Saturday after believing security operatives had successfully cleared the surrounding bushes of the attackers.
“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 disclosed that local authorities were making efforts to calm angry youths and prevent reprisals.
“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. However, residents and other sources said the death toll had risen to more than 18, with several injured victims receiving treatment.
He assured that survivors were being moved to safer locations, while security presence had been strengthened in the affected communities.
As of the time of filing this report, women, youths and other residents had flooded 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 by 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.
She added that several residents were still missing, while many of those injured were receiving treatment at the hospital.
Mrs. Inalegwu said women in the area had resolved to continue their protests until meaningful steps were taken to end the recurring 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.
Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, 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 promote peace across Benue communities.
“These acts of mindless bloodshed are a direct attempt to sabotage the progress of our state,” the governor said.
He assured residents of Benue South that they would not be driven away from their ancestral lands and warned that their commitment to peace should never 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 to intensify surveillance and patrols, work closely with neighbouring states and pursue those responsible with renewed determination.
He also ordered the deployment of additional personnel and resources to vulnerable communities and urged residents to provide credible intelligence to security agencies.
While sympathising with bereaved families and wishing the injured speedy recovery, the governor reaffirmed 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 the Federal Government and the Benue State Government to prioritise the protection of vulnerable communities across Benue South.
In a statement, Olofu lamented the repeated 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 the occasion and ensure those responsible were arrested and prosecuted.
“Every necessary effort must be mobilised to secure our communities and preserve the sanctity of human life,” he said.
Olofu extended condolences to the families of the victims and prayed for the peaceful repose of those who lost their lives.
Also reacting, 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 attack further exposed the vulnerability of many Benue communities to violent assaults, resulting in deaths, displacement and disruption of farming activities.
He stressed that protecting lives and property remains the government’s primary responsibility and called for urgent and decisive measures to halt the persistent violence.
The PDP governorship candidate also urged authorities to strengthen security operations in vulnerable communities, improve intelligence gathering, deploy adequate personnel to flashpoints and ensure those responsible were arrested and prosecuted.
He lamented the growing frustration among Benue residents over the recurring attacks, saying the people deserved more than condolences after every tragedy.
“The blood of innocent victims cries out for justice,” Aondoakaa declared, assuring affected communities that they were not alone in their grief.