Suspected herdsmen have reportedly intensified violent attacks, with three communities in Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State targeted on Wednesday.
The affected communities—Emichi, Odudaje, and Okpamaju—were simultaneously attacked, just a day after 11 people were killed in Otobi Community, also within Otukpo LGA. Notably, five individuals had been killed in these same communities earlier in February.
Local sources suggest that the latest attack may have resulted in multiple fatalities.
The Wednesday assault occurred shortly after Governor Hyacinth Alia announced the arrest of three suspected herdsmen linked to the previous night’s invasion of Otobi village.
Confirming the incident, Otukpo LGA Chairman Maxwell Ogiri stated that the attackers struck while the Commissioner of Police was still at the Ochidoma Palace addressing the aftermath of the Otobi attack. Ogiri also reported that three individuals sustained injuries during the attacks, prompting women and children to flee the affected communities for safety.
“Only young men were in the communities when the attackers arrived. The prompt response from combined security operatives made the attackers flee and none of them were arrested,” Ogiri stated.
The police spokesperson in the state, Sewuese Anene, was yet to confirm details of the attacks on the three communities.