At least 27 people have been killed in separate attacks on communities in Benue and Plateau states following renewed assaults by suspected armed groups, leaving residents grieving and calling for urgent government intervention.
In Benue State, no fewer than 18 people were killed in attacks on communities in Otukpo Local Government Area, while nine members of the same family, including a two-month-old baby, were reportedly killed during an attack on Kum and Wereng-Camp communities in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
In Benue South, suspected armed herders allegedly attacked Akpachi village in Ugboju community and Otukpo-Nobi community over the weekend.
The first incident occurred on Friday when the attackers reportedly invaded Akpachi village and killed two farmers on their farmland. Their remains were recovered the following day and buried.
Less than 24 hours later, at about 4am on Sunday, the assailants allegedly attacked Otukpo-Nobi community, killing at least 16 people and injuring several others.
The latest violence occurred about two weeks after the killing of the Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Ardo Risku Mohammed, and his associate, Yakubu Isah. The duo were reportedly ambushed and killed at Okutu community in Otukpo while returning from a peace meeting in Idekpa, Ohimini Local Government Area.
The fresh attacks sparked anger in Otukpo, where youths carried the bodies of victims to the palace of the Och’Idoma, disrupting an ongoing church service and demanding immediate action from authorities.
The protesters, who chanted war songs, accused the government and security agencies of failing to protect residents and called for an end to the repeated attacks.
The demonstration heightened tension in the town as youths blocked major roads, leaving commuters stranded for several hours.
A resident, Ebi Adoyi, who participated in the protest, said the attacks had plunged affected communities into mourning, warning that the death toll could rise as searches for missing persons continue.
“After killing two people in Akpachi on Friday, they attacked Otukpo-Nobi, killing 16 persons, including women and children. My neighbour lost her elder sister and her children in that attack,” he said.
The Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, confirmed the attacks and suggested they may have been linked to possible reprisals following the killing of the MACBAN chairman.
He said the first attack occurred when three villagers went to their farms in Akpachi.
“The attackers came and killed two of them. One escaped and raised the alarm. We recovered the bodies on Saturday and buried them. We searched the bushes, believing the attackers had left, but around 4am on Sunday, we received reports that they had attacked Otukpo-Nobi, killing several people and injuring others,” Ogiri said.
He added that authorities were working to move survivors to safer locations, provide medical support and improve security in the affected communities.
Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the attacks, describing them as barbaric acts against the lives and peace of the people.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, the governor directed security agencies to intensify surveillance, work with neighbouring states, identify the perpetrators and ensure they face justice.
In Plateau State, the attack on Kum and Wereng-Camp communities in Riyom Local Government Area occurred late Saturday night.
Residents said the gunmen invaded the communities around 11:30pm and operated for more than an hour, firing sporadically and forcing residents to flee into nearby bushes.
