Benue state is reportedly in turmoil as a result of mass murder in fresh attacks by suspected armed herdsmen on communities in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.
The latest killings are being unleashed weeks after the killing of the state chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Ardo Risku.
Local media organisations, including Idoma Television, reported that the attacks began on Saturday when suspected herders invaded Akpachi village in Ugboju community, killing two residents and injuring several others.
The attackers reportedly struck again in the early hours of Sunday, invading OtukpoNobi, where at least eight more people were killed, according to the local media outlet.
The casualty figure could not be independently verified as of the time of filing this report.
The latest attacks triggered protests in Otukpo, where angry youths marched to the palace of the Och’Idoma, demanding urgent intervention from the government and security agencies to halt the recurring violence in Benue South.
Governor reacts
Reacting to the attacks, Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the killings, describing them as “a barbaric and inhuman assault on the sanctity of life and the collective soul of the people of Benue State.”
In a statement issued on Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, the governor said the attacks occurred between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. when suspected armed herdsmen invaded Akpachi village while residents were asleep.
He said the assailants killed scores of people and left many others with varying degrees of injuries.
“These acts of mindless bloodshed are a direct attempt to sabotage the progress of our state,” Mr Alia said.
“My government stands firmly with you, and we will not allow our communities to be turned into killing fields.”
The governor directed security agencies to intensify surveillance and patrols across the affected communities and border areas, to work with neighbouring states, and to ensure that those responsible are arrested and prosecuted.
He also urged residents to support security agencies with credible intelligence.
“We urge every citizen to cooperate with the police and military by providing timely and credible intelligence. Security is a collective responsibility, and your information is a vital tool in our defence,” he said.
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