In the past three months, at least 59 people have been killed in a wave of targeted attacks across mostly rural environs of Benue State.

Our correspondent reports that the victims of the killings between May 1 and July 13 this year cut across farmers, community leaders, academics, travellers and others in different parts of the state.

The latest attack occurred in Otukpo Local Government Area of the state, where armed invaders killed at least 18 residents in separate attacks in Akpachi village and Otukpo-Nobi community between Saturday and the early hours of Sunday.

A review of the incidents by our correspondent in Makurdi shows that the attacks have followed a recurring pattern since May, with victims deliberately targeted in coordinated ambushes, assassinations and violent attacks blamed on suspected armed herders, cult groups, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements.

In many of the incidents, witnesses said the assailants appeared to have prior knowledge of their victims. In contrast, others were believed to be reprisals or attacks arising from armed herders, cult groups, bandits, kidnappers and criminal gangs.

The renewed attacks, which occurred between Saturday and the early hours of Sunday, saw armed invaders killing two persons at Akpachi village before storming Otukpo-Nobi community, where 16 more residents, mostly women and children, were murdered in their sleep.

Sadly, another attack, which claimed the life of a youth leader, Sunday Ogoh in Ondo-Ugboju of Otukpo Local Government Area, occurred on Tuesday, barely 48 hours after the Otukpo-Nobi mayhem.

These attacks triggered protests in Otukpo as angry residents carried some of the victims’ bodies to the palace of the Och’Idoma, Dr John Elaigwu Odogbo, demanding urgent government’s intervention.

One of the female protesters said 16 people were killed in Otukpo Nobi, including her sister and two children.

Another protester narrated that a three-year-old infant’s head was spattered while on the back of his fleeing mother, and a seven-year-old who was sweeping the front of the local church around 5am was gunned down, just as the clan head of Ai-Ochaikpigwu, Ebegidi Ukwenya, almost 90 years old, was shot on his arm and stomach.

A victim, Eche Ochepa, told our correspondent that his household of 15, including his wife, mother, children, and brothers, had fled the Otukpo-Nobi community barely after surviving the brutal attack.

“We are now at the neighbouring Igbanomaje community for safety. Our village is now deserted, leaving only the youths behind. The trauma of how armed herders besieged our homes remains fresh in our minds, and we are not happy with the government that couldn’t protect us when the need arose.

“Right now, we want the government to send away all armed herders from our community so that we can go back home to our farming for a living,” Ochepa said.

Similarly, Efada Ohepo, who sustained a gunshot injury and is recuperating at the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Otukpo (FUHSTHO), recalled that they were awoken from sleep that early Sunday about 4am by the sounds of gunshots which rent the air.

“My house was surrounded by the gunmen. The attack was unexpected because we had no problems with herders before now, but they came, killing many people. My village head was also shot. I sustained a gunshot too, and that’s why I am in the hospital now, he added.

The chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Prince Maxwell Ogiri, has, however, linked Sunday’s attack on Otukpo-Nobi community to the recent killing of the chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Ardo Risku Muhammad, saying that reprisals were anticipated.

“I am sure the news of the death of Ardo Risku Muhammad is no longer news to you; and if you know the mindset of the people we are dealing with, you should also know that reprisals were likely to occur,” he said.

Ogiri disclosed that the violence began on Friday evening when suspected bandits attacked farmers at Apachi village in Otukpo Local Government Area.

He told journalists in Makurdi that, “Three persons went to the farm to work and the bandits came and killed two of them. One escaped and alerted the community. The following day, we mobilised to the farm, recovered the two bodies, and buried them on Saturday.”

The chairman added that despite efforts to comb surrounding bushes and strengthen vigilance, the attackers struck again around 4am on Sunday, noting, “We woke up to the news that they had besieged Otukpo-Nobi, killing several people and injuring many others.”

The chairman said the fresh attack sparked outrage among residents, leading to a protest at the Och’Idoma palace where victims’ bodies were taken.

But the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association of Nigeria in Benue State has since denied claims of their members’ involvement in the incidents.

The police public relations officer in the state, DSP Udeme Edet, however, said the command had deployed tactical teams to the affected Otukpo area, while assuring residents that those responsible would be tracked down and brought to justice.

She said the command earlier received a distress call at 6am on Sunday reporting that the attackers invaded the community shortly after the conclusion of the wake and burial rites of an octogenarian, Adaje Okoh.

Edet said the gunmen reportedly opened fire indiscriminately, killing eight persons, injuring five others and setting some thatched houses and a motorcycle ablaze.

She added that the commissioner of police in the state, CP Cletus Nwadiogbu, immediately led tactical teams and other operatives to the area to restore normalcy, prevent further attacks and commence investigation.

She further noted that the injured victims were evacuated to a medical facility in Otukpo for treatment, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Otukpo.

The police public relations officer described the attack as heinous, stressing that the police commissioner has directed the deployment of additional tactical and operational assets to Otukpo-Nobi and other vulnerable communities to forestall further breakdown of law and order.

Edet also said security had been reinforced following protests by aggrieved youths and appealed to residents to remain calm and provide credible information to aid investigation, while extending the command’s condolences to the bereaved families and wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

Timeline of targeted killings in 74 days

On May 2, four persons were ambushed and killed along the Aila-Odugheho road in Agatu Local Government Area. The council chairman, Melvin Ejeh, described the attack as an ambush by suspected armed herders who had resorted to attacking travellers after security measures made direct assaults on communities more difficult.

On May 5, three persons were killed in the Agwan Jukun area of Makurdi during a clash between suspected rival cult groups. Residents said the attackers moved with precision, targeting specific individuals with apparent insider information.

By May 11, barely six days later, another suspected cult attack claimed eight lives in Makurdi’s High Level area. The police had said armed youths stormed a compound, called out their targets and shot them dead before killing others who responded to the gunfire.

The Makurdi Local Government chairman, Joseph Keffi, linked the attack to cult rivalry, saying innocent persons were killed for harbouring a suspected cult member.

On May 23, gunmen killed two farmers at Ukpamaju village in Otukpo while they were working on a tractor, before blocking the Otukpo-Enugu highway later the same day, attacking motorists and killing another victim. Locals believed the same armed group carried out both attacks.

June 10, MACBAN alleged that four Fulani travellers were ambushed by youths in Okpokwu while travelling to Onitsha to visit relatives. One of the victims died while two others sustained serious injuries. The association rejected claims linking the victims to kidnapping.

Also, on June 25, a farmer identified as Verse was killed while working with his younger brother on their farm in Guma Local Government Area following a dispute over cattle allegedly destroying crops. His brother survived with severe injuries.

On June 26, the chairman of MACBAN in Benue State, Ardo Risku Muhammad, and his associate, Yakubu Isah, were ambushed and killed shortly after attending a peace meeting between herders and host communities convened by the police in Ohimini Local Government Area. The attack further heightened tension across Benue South.

On July 2, at least 10 persons were killed when armed invaders attacked Saai community in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, an incident Governor Hyacinth Alia linked to terrorists masquerading as herders; and directed security agencies to launch a manhunt.

On July 3, armed attackers struck Okpafie community in Okpokwu, killing a cattle owner before rustling more than 40 cows. A local vigilante member was later killed during a gun battle with the fleeing suspects.

On July 4, a former Benue State secretary to the government, Professor David Salifu, died after being shot by suspected bandits along the Wukari-Zakibiam road while travelling from Taraba to Benue. Witnesses said he was attacked after resisting an attempted abduction.

On same day, July 4, in a separate attack, suspected armed invaders killed two farmers in Anyiase community of Kwande Local Government Area. Another victim later died from injuries sustained, while gunmen also attacked a commercial vehicle along the same axis.

Similarly, on July 8, gunmen assassinated Professor Gabriel Nyityo of Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi, alongside his younger brother, John Nyityo, at their residence in Adaka, Makurdi. Police said investigations into the killings had commenced.

The latest attack on July 12 saw armed invaders return to Otukpo, killing at least 18 residents in Akpachi and Otukpo-Nobi communities.

Barely 48-hours after, a youth leader was killed in another attack on Ondo-Ugboju community.

This brings the total to 59 people killed in different circumstances within 74 days.

MACBAN condemns Benue killings, distances members from incidents

Meanwhile, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association of Nigeria in Benue State has condemned the killing of many people in Otukpo-Nobi community of Otukpo Local Government Area. The association also urged the public not to attribute the attack to Fulani herders before security agencies conclude their investigation.

In a statement issued on Monday and signed by the association’s secretary in the state, Ibrahim Galma, MACBAN described the attack, which occurred on Sunday as unfortunate and called for calm.

The association warned against what it described as hasty conclusions linking the incident to Fulani herders without credible evidence.

The group maintained that Fulani residents had been forcefully evicted from Otukpo and surrounding communities last year, including their community leader in the area, Chairman Yenusa, who reportedly left the state after efforts to restore peace failed.

“While we condemn this act of violence in the strongest terms, we also urge the general public to avoid hasty conclusions and linking the incident to Fulani herders without proper investigation by security agencies.

“It is important for the public to note that all Fulani residents in Otukpo and its environs were forcefully evicted from the area sometime last year. This included their community leader in Otukpo, Chairman Yenusa, who left the state immediately after all efforts to restore peace in Otukpo failed following that incident,” the association stated.

It also noted that Otukpo-Nobi and neighbouring communities, including Okete, Amla-Icho and Otada, had experienced communal disputes in the past, citing a clash in 2024 that reportedly claimed four lives.

The association also urged the public not to link the Otukpo-Nobi attack to a possible reprisal over the recent killing of MACBAN Chairman, Ardo Risku Mohammed at Okwudu near Ohimini.

The group noted that such speculation could undermine ongoing investigations by the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies.

MACBAN further called on government authorities to monitor social media content creators, warning that discussions and unverified claims about the incident while investigations are ongoing could heighten tension and frustrate efforts to restore peace.

The association appealed to its members and residents of the state to remain calm and law-abiding, expressing confidence that security agencies would uncover those responsible for the killings and ensure they are brought to justice.

It also prayed for the repose of the souls of those killed and wished the injured a speedy recovery, while calling for the restoration of lasting peace in Otukpo and Benue State.

Och’Otukpo orders criminal herders to leave

Sequel to the incident, the paramount ruler of the Otukpo Kingdom, Och’Otukpo Odu, Chief John Eimonye, has directed all armed herders to vacate every part of Otukpo land in Benue State with immediate effect.

The directive followed Sunday’s deadly attack on Otukpo-Nobi, one of the communities under the traditional ruler’s domain, allegedly attacked by armed herders.

In a statement issued by the secretary of the Otukpo District Traditional Council, Chief Udeh Adole, the monarch observed the decision was taken in response to growing security concerns and the perceived threat posed by the continued presence of criminal herders to the lives and property of residents across the kingdom.

The monarch stressed that the order should not be misconstrued as an act of prejudice or ethnic profiling, describing it as a necessary step aimed at safeguarding the lives, security and peaceful coexistence of the people of Otukpo in the face of repeated attacks.

He said the directive reflected the concerns of a traditional ruler determined to protect his subjects from persistent security challenges.

Lamenting the latest attack, Eimonye expressed frustration over what he described as a continued neglect of the people who, according to him, have been left at the mercy of marauding armed herders.

We’ll flush out criminal elements – Gov Alia vows

In the meantime, Governor Hyacinth Alia has assured residents of Benue south senatorial district of his renewed efforts to restore peace and strengthen security on Otukpo-Nobi, other communities in Otukpo Local Government Area and across the state.

Alia said his administration would work with security agencies to flush out criminal elements from the area.

The governor gave the assurance during a condolence visit to the Och’Idoma, Dr John Elaigwu at his palace in Otukpo, where he sympathised with the traditional ruler and the people over the killings.

He condemned the attacks and urged residents to support security agencies with timely and credible information, stressing that intelligence gathering remains crucial to tackling insecurity.

He also called on youths to work closely with security operatives in identifying and exposing those behind the attacks.

Governor Alia disclosed that the state government would soon convene a stakeholders’ meeting with leaders from the affected communities to discuss the security situation and develop lasting solutions.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to working with security agencies to restore peace across the state.

Responding, the Och’Idoma, Dr John Elaigwu, said he remained in mourning since the attacks, but appreciated the governor’s visit, describing it as a source of hope and encouragement to the people.

He commended security agencies for their swift response, while urging them to adopt more proactive measures to prevent further attacks.

The paramount ruler also cautioned against the spread of misleading narratives on the social media, noting that protecting lives and property requires the collective efforts of the government, security agencies and the public.

Also speaking, the Ad’Ohimini, Dr John Ochai, thanked Governor Alia for identifying with the people of Benue south in their moment of grief, saying the visit had brought comfort and renewed hope to the affected communities.

Security expert blames poor local mobilisation for rising killings

A retired senior officer of the Department of State Services (DSS), Orgem Angulum, described the wave of killings recorded over the past three months as alarming and sympathised with the families of the victims.

He said: “In my opinion, the killings over the past three months have been devastating. I commiserate with the families of those who lost their loved ones. Many of these attacks could have been prevented because there were prior threats and the conventional security agencies had been deployed to some of the affected areas.

“However, I do not entirely blame the security agencies, considering the nature of the insecurity we are dealing with. The real challenge lies with the government, which ought to have carried out massive mobilisation. There should have been proper mobilisation of local vigilantes and forest guards. And they should be adequately armed because they understand the terrain better than the police, who may find it difficult to access some of these remote communities.

“While the country awaits the establishment of state police, the first line of defence remains local vigilante groups. As indigenes of the rural communities, they are better positioned to respond quickly to threats; hence they should be properly equipped for frontline defence.” (Daily Trust)