Three individuals suspected to be herdsmen have been apprehended following attacks that resulted in the deaths of 11 people in the Otobi community of Otukpo local government.
Governor Hyacinth Alia made this announcement on Wednesday during a press briefing at the Government House in Makurdi, the state capital.
He expressed concern over the escalating violence and urged security agencies to pursue those responsible for the attacks.
Alia mentioned that National Security Advisor Nuhu Ribadu has promised to send additional security resources to the state to address the recent surge in violence, particularly in the Otukpo area.
The governor also shared that security personnel have been dispatched to the afflicted region, and three suspects linked to the Otobi killings have been arrested.
Kennedy Angbo, the representative for the Otukpo-Akpa Constituency in the Benue State House of Assembly, reported that nine bodies were recovered on Tuesday night, with one more found later that evening in a remote location. By Wednesday morning, additional bodies were discovered, increasing the death toll to 11.
The assault has caused significant alarm throughout the state, particularly because the Otobi community, which houses the Federal Ministry of Water Resources Multipurpose Dam, has suffered two attacks this April alone. A security guard was killed at the dam site just days before this latest incident.
Earlier, Governor Alia dispatched his deputy, Samuel Ode, to assess the situation in the affected community. He extended condolences to the bereaved families and reassured residents that the state government is dedicated to addressing the rising violence in rural areas.
Ode also provided some financial assistance to support immediate needs, while the state emergency management agency has been tasked with conducting a needs assessment and delivering emergency aid to those affected.
The assault on Otobi is part of a troubling trend of violence along the Otukpo-Ado Road, extending from Okpamaju to Asa One and Asa Two, and reaching the Ebonyi State border.