Benue killings: ‘We have been abandoned to our fate’ – Agonising residents recount latest ordeal
Residents of Benue State on Edge Amid Ongoing Attacks
Benue State is experiencing heightened tension as suspected Fulani herdsmen continue to launch violent attacks across various communities, leading to widespread fear among residents.
Recent reports indicate that the southern region of the state, particularly the Idoma-speaking areas, has been disproportionately affected by these assaults. Nearly 60 individuals have reportedly lost their lives, primarily in the Otukpo Local Government Area, where the violence has intensified.
In reaction to the violence, community members have staged protests, carrying the bodies of victims to the palace of the Och’Idoma, the paramount ruler of the Idoma nation. Local residents believe the latest spate of attacks may be retaliatory, linked to the ambush and murder in June of Alhaji Ardo Risku Mohammed, the state chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, and his associate, Yakubu Isa.
On the eve of the attacks, an unidentified individual associated with the Fulani community threatened that the people of Benue would suffer consequences for the killing of the MACBAN president in the state.
Reports from the region confirm that at least ten people died in separate incidents attributed to armed herdsmen in the Otukpo Local Government Area. The violence began with an assault on Akpachi village, where two individuals were killed and several others injured. Within 24 hours, another attack on the Otukpo Nobi community resulted in eight deaths and numerous injuries.
In a separate incident less than 48 hours later, residents of the Ondo community in Ugboju fled their homes following another early morning attack by armed assailants.
Additionally, in the Ohimini Local Government Area, attackers stormed the Ankpechi community, firing indiscriminately and looting several stores. One local leader, Gabriel Adole, confirmed that the attacks were executed by suspected armed herders.
In light of the escalating violence, the Idoma Association in the United States has appealed to President Bola Tinubu for immediate intervention to address the ongoing killings in the Benue South Senatorial District. The group characterized the situation as a sustained campaign of violence spanning over a decade.
Similarly, the Idoma Community in the United Kingdom has called upon the Benue State Government to collaborate with security forces to apprehend the perpetrators of these recent attacks.
Local residents have expressed their anguish over the violence, with one protester, Ojima Inalegwu, sharing her sorrow after losing family members in the attacks. Another protester recounted the harrowing details of an infant’s tragic death during the violence and the wounding of an elderly clan chief.
Local government officials have faced criticism for their responses to the rising violence, with community members highlighting what they perceive as a lack of urgency in addressing the situation. Calls for accountability and justice continue to grow as the sense of dread deepens in the affected communities.
