Several residents have been killed and others injured following separate attacks by suspected armed herdsmen on communities in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.
Local sources said the violence began on Saturday when attackers invaded Akpachi village in Ugboju community, killing two people and injuring several others.
Less than 24 hours later, another attack was reported in Otukpo Nobi community, where eight residents were killed and many others sustained injuries.
The attacks sparked protests by youths and residents, who marched to the Och’Idoma Palace in Otukpo to express anger over the deteriorating security situation and demand urgent government action.
The latest incident occurred about one month after the killing of Alhaji Ardo Risku Mohammed, the Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), and his associate, Yakubu Isah, after attending a peace meeting in Ohimini Local Government Area.
Reacting to the attacks, Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia described the killings as a barbaric attack on human lives and a threat to peace in the state.
In a statement issued by his Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, Governor Alia said the attackers stormed Akpachi village between 3:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. while residents were asleep, leaving communities devastated.
The governor said he was deeply saddened that the attacks happened despite ongoing efforts by the state government, traditional rulers and security agencies to promote peace and stability.
Alia assured residents of Otukpo and Benue South that his administration would not allow their communities to become targets of violence.
He warned that the people’s commitment to peace should not be mistaken for weakness.
He directed security agencies to intensify efforts to track down the attackers, ensure they face justice and deploy additional personnel to protect vulnerable communities from further attacks.
