July 12, (THEWILL) — The Chairman of Oturkpo Local Government area, Mr Maxwell Ogiri, has confirmed the invasion of Oturkpo-Nobi community by suspected herdsmen at the early hours of Sunday, during which 10 lives were lost, and several others sustained injuries.
He said the bodies of the two victims were recovered and buried on Saturday after community members searched the area, following the killing of two farmers in Apachi village on Friday.
In a chat with journalists on Sunday, the Council boss said residents had remained vigilant and combed nearby bushes after the incident, but were taken by surprise when gunmen attacked Otukpo-Nobi at about 4:00 a.m. on Sunday.
According to him, youths in the area protested the killings by taking the bodies of some victims to the palace of the Och’Idoma, adding that efforts were ongoing to calm the youth so that they don’t take their anger out on innocent passers-by.
“Ten persons had been killed in the latest wave of attacks, comprising two victims killed on Friday in Apachi and eight others killed in Sunday’s attack on Otukpo-Nobi”, Mr Ogiri declared.
He added that several other persons sustained injuries, while survivors had been moved to safer locations as security had been reinforced in the area to forestall further breakdown of law and order.
In a swift reaction, Governor Hyacinth Alia has expressed sadness and condemnation over the invasion by suspected armed herdsmen on Akpachi Village and the Otukpo-Nobi community in Otukpo Local Government Area.
He describes the attacks as not only a breach of peace but also a barbaric and inhuman assault on the sanctity of life and the collective soul of the people of Benue State.
In a statement, the Chief Press Secretary, Sir Tersoo Kula, said Governor Alia was pained that the attacks occurred at a time when the state government has been working closely with traditional rulers and security agencies to foster lasting peace and harmony, saying such acts of mindless bloodshed are a direct attempt to sabotage the progress of our state.
“Governor Alia shares in the grief and anger of the people of Otukpo and the entire Benue South Senatorial District, saying, “Your lives are precious, and I can assure you that your ancestral lands will not be surrendered to fear”, he stated.
He warns that while the people of Benue have consistently demonstrated remarkable restraint and a commitment to peace, such restraint must 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 also issued a clear and immediate directive to all security agencies operating in the state to liaise with their counterparts in neighbouring states and once again “swing into action” with renewed vigour by intensifying surveillance and patrols across the affected communities and border areas.
He further directs the security agencies to relentlessly pursue the perpetrators, ensure their arrest and prosecution, and deploy additional personnel and resources to protect vulnerable communities and prevent further attacks.
Governor Alia urges residents to cooperate with the police and military by providing timely and credible intelligence, noting that security is a collective responsibility as information is a vital tool in our defence.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Benue State Command, Udeme Udet, could not be reached at the time of filing this report.
