Fear and sorrow have once again gripped Benue State as suspected armed herdsmen launched a deadly attack on Otobi community in Akpa District, Otukpo Local Government Area. The assault, which took place on Tuesday evening around 5:30 p.m., left at least seven people dead, several others injured, and hundreds fleeing for their lives.
According to local eyewitnesses and community leaders, the attackers stormed the peaceful farming community without warning, burning homes and shooting indiscriminately at residents. As of press time, the full number of casualties remains uncertain, but residents and local officials confirm that many are still missing, feared dead or hiding in surrounding bushes.
One of the eyewitnesses who joined a local security response team spoke with our correspondent shortly after the attack. He confirmed that the bodies of seven residents had been recovered, while search efforts were ongoing to locate the wounded and account for those unaccounted for.
“We counted seven bodies,” he said. “But we believe there may be more in the bushes or inside the burnt houses. Many people were running in different directions, and some are still missing.”
Kennedy Angbo, the member representing Otukpo-Akpa Constituency in the Benue State House of Assembly, confirmed the attack and expressed deep concern over the continuous violence in the region. Angbo, who is from Akpa District, said that hundreds of villagers have fled their homes following the incident.
“We are devastated,” he said. “There are confirmed reports of several deaths and many injured. Homes have been burnt down, and our people are now displaced and hiding. It is time for the government and security agencies to take decisive action.”
A resident of the community, Edwin Emma, spoke to our reporter over the phone during the attack. He made an emotional appeal for help.
“We are being attacked by herdsmen at Otobi community, my wife and children are fleeing from the community as I speak. Please call for help,” he cried.
His voice, trembling with fear, reflected the chaos and desperation that overtook the community on Tuesday evening. Like many others in Otobi, he now faces the grim reality of displacement and loss.
As of the time this report was filed, the Benue State Police Command had not issued any official statement regarding the attack. Efforts to reach police spokespersons were unsuccessful.
This lack of immediate response from security agencies has raised concerns among residents and stakeholders, who fear that such silence could encourage further attacks.
The Otobi attack is the latest in a series of violent incidents that have plagued Benue State in recent years. Known as the “Food Basket of the Nation,” Benue has become one of the most affected states in Nigeria’s ongoing farmer-herder conflict.
These conflicts, which often pit local farming communities against suspected armed herdsmen, have led to thousands of deaths, mass displacements, and the destruction of homes and livelihoods.
Benue State, located in Nigeria’s North Central geopolitical zone, has seen repeated attacks in local government areas such as Guma, Gwer West, Logo, and Agatu, among others. The state government has on several occasions declared mass burials for victims of similar attacks.
Governor Hyacinth Alia, who took office in 2023, had promised to prioritize security and tackle the root causes of the violence. However, Tuesday’s attack shows that insecurity remains a major challenge.
The attack on Otobi also comes on the heels of another wave of violence in neighbouring Plateau State, also in the North Central zone. In the last two weeks alone, over 100 people have reportedly been killed in coordinated attacks by armed groups on communities in Bokkos and Bassa Local Government Areas of the state.
The Plateau attacks, much like the one in Otobi, involved the destruction of homes, killings of unarmed villagers, and mass displacements. These repeated tragedies have sparked national outrage and calls for increased federal intervention.
Nigerians across the country have continued to urge the federal and state governments to take stronger action to protect lives and property in rural communities. Many have pointed to the failure of security agencies to prevent or swiftly respond to attacks as a major problem.
“The government must wake up,” said human rights advocate, Uche Okafor. “How many more innocent Nigerians must die before there is a real solution? Communities are being wiped out, and nothing is being done.”
The Benue State Government has previously enacted the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, which bans open grazing and encourages ranching as a way to reduce clashes between herders and farmers. However, enforcement of the law has been weak in several parts of the state.
Beyond the death toll and property destruction, the human cost of these attacks is immeasurable. Children are being forced to flee their homes, families are being separated, and farmers are losing their only means of livelihood.
In Otobi, many displaced residents are now seeking refuge in nearby communities or sleeping in open spaces. Local churches and schools have been turned into temporary shelters, while volunteers and humanitarian organizations try to provide basic necessities.
Residents of Otobi are now pleading with the government, security forces, and humanitarian agencies to come to their aid. They are calling for the deployment of military and police forces to the area to prevent further attacks and help restore peace.
“We cannot live like this,” said one resident who fled with his family to Otukpo town. “We need protection. We need justice. And we need help now.”
As Otobi mourns its dead and counts its losses, the larger question remains: how many more communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt must suffer before lasting peace is achieved?
