No be small wahala wey hapun for Otukpo LGA, Benue State. Dem suspected armed herders don kill at least six people in just three days. This one no be jolly news! The killings happen between Sunday and early Tuesday morning, wahala dey plenty!
Among the people wey don lose their life na a retired Warrant Officer wey dem kill for Asa 2, plus one former councillor and four others wey dem wipe out for Otukpo-Akpa side. The casual mention dey pain, as two people still collect bullet for Otobi-Akpam road on Sunday. Na serious matter o!
As if say that one no reach, dem also abduct one woman and pikin during another attack wey occur. Dem say the former councillor and his crew meet their end in the early hours of Tuesday, January 13, inside Otukpo LGA. Maxwell Ogri, wey be the Otukpo chairman, don yarn say the Sunday wahala na bandits wey dey disguise as herders. E talk true!
He explain say, “Dey bandits wey come from North East and Middle Belt na dem dey cause all dis killings and kidnapping after festive periods.” The attack wey happen on Tuesday, four victims don be confirmed as Ochi Ugbabe (former councillor), Achibi Onah, Eje Eba, and Sunday Iruja, while others still dey remain nameless.
Eyewitnesses wey dey from the area talk say dem see as dem suspected herders invade the Otobi Akpa community around 1:30 am Tuesday morning, after dem don attempt to kidnap people on Sunday night at Ekwu-Ora’Odaba. Na community volunteers, led by Ocheme Jackson, carry out patrol wey help scatter the Sunday kidnappers o.
Community leader John Anyebe don confirm say dem attack na by suspected herders wey don dey terrorize dem community. Dem carry guns dey shoot people close to where Honourable Igbabe Ochi dey sit like say na movie. “Dem don loot shops for food and other valuables,” e add.
Representative wey dey for state assembly, Kennedy Angbo, don blow alarm say dis matter don too much. He dey vex well well as he recall say just the other day, attack happen to passengers for Benue links bus wey make three of dem collect bullet and land for hospital. “You fit imagine, early morning coz five of my people don die again at Otobi. Wetin be all these?” na wetin he dey ask.
Joseph Har, wey be Special Adviser on Internal Security, don confirm say him don hear about di incident from the Community Protection Guard. Dem write say “Suspected Fulani kidnappers come attack shop at Otobi-Akpa around 1:30 am.” Na wah!
DSP Udeme Edet, the state command spokesperson, join mouth yan say na tragedy wey happen for Otobi-Akpa, as four people don still lose their lives. Dem investigate matter well, and dem dey do everything possible to catch di people wey do am.
Dis Otobi-Akpa community no be new to dis kind wahala. Dem don face attack before, last year April 15, 2025, when dem wey be herders kill 13 people. Na why people dey talk say the US airstrike on ISWAP camps fit dey contribute to dis increase of wahala. Some still talk say dry season dey make herders waka come Benue valley for food.
Last Saturday, two security men wey dey work with Operations Whirl Stroke Joint Task Force also collect fire for Kwande LGA. Na so di matter dey unfold, and we dey hope sey dem go fit find solution before e too late.
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