Several lives are feared lost following a renewed wave of suspected herdsmen attacks on Wednesday across multiple communities in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria.
The affected communities: Emichi, Odudaje, and Okpamaju, were reportedly attacked simultaneously, barely 24 hours after 11 people were killed in a separate assault on Otobi village, also in Otukpo.
Local sources say the exact number of casualties in the latest incident remains unclear, but many may have lost their lives. The attacks come just hours after Governor Hyacinth Alia announced the arrest of three suspected herders linked to the Otobi killings.
Speaking on the situation, Otukpo LGA Chairman Maxwell Ogiri confirmed the assaults on the three communities. According to him, the assailants struck while the state’s Commissioner of Police was still at the Ochidoma Palace investigating the previous day’s killings.
He added that three individuals were injured during the attacks, and the violence has forced women and children to flee for safety, leaving only young men behind. He noted that the swift intervention of security personnel led to the attackers’ retreat, though no arrests were made.
Meanwhile, the state police spokesperson, Sewuese Anene, at the time of filing this report had not released an official statement on the incident.
© WAVN