Fear and anger are mounting in Benue State following a series of deadly attacks on communities in the southern part of the state, with residents accusing authorities of failing to protect them.
Recent violence, largely concentrated in Otukpo and surrounding areas, has left nearly 60 people dead in multiple incidents over a few days, according to local accounts. Separate reports also confirm at least eight deaths in Otukpo communities, highlighting the growing toll of the crisis.
The attacks, widely attributed to suspected armed herders, began in Akpachi village in Ugboju, where two people were killed and several others injured. Within 24 hours, gunmen struck again in Otukpo Nobi, killing at least eight people.
Subsequent assaults forced residents to flee their homes in nearby communities, including Ondo and Ankpechi in Ohimini Local Government Area, where attackers opened fire and looted shops.
The violence has triggered protests, with youths carrying victims’ bodies to the palace of the Och’Idoma in a show of anger and desperation.
Some residents believe the killings may be linked to reprisals following the recent murder of a local leader of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, though authorities have not confirmed this.
Diaspora groups, including Idoma associations in the United States and United Kingdom, have condemned the attacks and called on President Bola Tinubu and the Benue State Government to act swiftly.
They described the violence as a prolonged and systematic crisis that has devastated communities for years.
“We cannot accept this cycle of killings,” one group said, urging security agencies to identify and prosecute those responsible.
Residents who survived the attacks described harrowing scenes, including children and elderly victims caught in the violence. Many say they feel abandoned by both federal and state authorities.
Benue, a key agricultural state in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, has long faced recurring clashes linked to land disputes and insecurity, with repeated attacks displacing thousands and disrupting livelihoods.
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