State authorities denounce recent violence in Benue, praise efforts of law enforcement personnel

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Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has expressed grief over the attack on the Efeyi community in Ugboju District, Otukpo Local Government Area of the state.

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The governor also commended security operatives for killing two of the suspected attackers.

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According to the governor, the attack was carried out by suspected armed herders in the early hours of Tuesday.

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In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, the governor said the attackers must pay for their crime against the people of the state.

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The governor appreciated the Benue State Police Command for its swift response, which resulted in the neutralisation of two bandits suspected to have participated in the attack.

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“Scores of persons have been murdered, with many others sustaining various degrees of injury, as suspected armed herdsmen launched yet another attack on the Efeyi community in Ugboju District of Otukpo LGA of Benue State.

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“Following reports of the incident, men of the Benue State Police Command deployed personnel to track the armed bandits.

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“A fire exchange occurred as the police closed in on the bandits, and two of the bandits, who were apparently positioned to provide cover for the others to escape, were neutralised,” the statement read in part.

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The governor said his administration would continue to support security agencies to ensure those who attack the state are dealt with decisively.

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He added that strangers would not be allowed to drive the people from their ancestral homes.

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He said, “Our people are peaceful and hardworking. I was elected to protect them, and I must do everything legitimately possible to ensure my people are protected, and our land is secured.”

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Suspected armed herders reportedly invaded the Efeyi community in Ugboju District of Otukpo Local Government Area in the early hours of Tuesday, killing 15 people.

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The attackers were said to have stormed the community at about 5 a.m., shooting sporadically.

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The latest incident is the second major attack in the area in recent weeks. Otobi community in the same local government area was also attacked about three weeks ago, with eight people reportedly killed.

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A resident of the community, who identified himself simply as Okpe, told journalists in a telephone interview on Tuesday that the attackers invaded the community at about 5 a.m.

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He said, “The current situation in Efeyi Ugboju is pathetic. The attack started around 5 a.m. this (Tuesday) morning, and until about 7 a.m., there was no response from security agents.

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“The attackers are Fulani herdsmen. They were shooting sporadically when they came into our community. As I am talking to you now, 15 corpses have been recovered, while the search is ongoing because some people are still missing.”

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Meanwhile, the Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, confirmed the attack and said 14 bodies had been recovered, while several other people sustained varying degrees of injuries.

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According to the chairman, the attack was unprovoked, and he identified the attackers as Fulani herdsmen.

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He said, “Yes, there was an attack on Efeyi in Ugboju District, Otukpo LGA. Fourteen bodies have been recovered, while many others were wounded.

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“There was no provocation at all. The attack was carried out by the same Fulani herdsmen. I think they just came to shed blood and kill people. Our people are afraid. There is great apprehension, and people from neighbouring communities are fleeing.

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“There are many security agencies, including the Mobile Police, Agro-Rangers, the military and the police, but I do not know if they are not enough.

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“There should be a deliberate effort by the government to enforce the anti-open grazing law, as everything is tied to it. Even the eviction notice given cannot hold because there is nobody to enforce it, so we will continue to lament.”

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He added, “Mine is to give them (security agents) a comfortable place to stay and other logistics, but I don’t determine their operations.”

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When contacted, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, DSP Udeme Edet, said she would respond after receiving details of the incident.

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“I’ll respond to this when I get the report and details, please,” Edet said.

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Communities in Otukpo and the neighbouring Ohimini Local Government Area have witnessed repeated attacks by suspected armed herders in recent weeks, which some members of the public have linked to possible reprisals following the killing of the Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Risku Mohammed, on June 24, 2026.

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The MACBAN chairman was killed at Okpokwu village in Otukpo Local Government Area after attending a peace meeting in Ohimini LGA.

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