Benue State government has confirmed the killing of not less than 15 persons after gunmen believed to be Fulani herdsmen launched coordinated attacks on communities in Ugboju District of the Otukpo Local Government Area, in the early hours of Tuesday.
According to Sahara Reporters, the attacks left at least 14 residents dead in Efeyi-Ugboju, while another victim was reportedly killed a day earlier in nearby Ipom-Ugboju.
Confirming the incident, Otukpo Local Government Chairman, Maxwell Ogiri, said authorities had recovered 14 bodies from Efeyi-Ugboju, while many other residents sustained gunshot injuries.
“This was a deliberate attack on defenseless people. There was no confrontation or provocation. The gunmen came with one mission — to kill. So far, we have recovered 14 bodies, while many survivors are receiving treatment for serious injuries. Fear has gripped the area, and residents of neighbouring communities are fleeing to avoid suffering the same fate,” Ogiri said.
The Council Chairman who condemned the killings, questioned the effectiveness of security deployments in the area, noting that the presence of soldiers, police officers, Mobile Police personnel and Agro-Rangers had failed to prevent the carnage.
“We already have multiple security formations operating in this axis, yet these attacks continue. Government must strengthen enforcement of the state’s Anti-Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law because the recurring violence is closely linked to the failure to fully implement that law,” he added.
Residents of the affected communities who gave account of the incident said the gunmen invaded Efeyi-Ugboju at about 5am and operated for more than four hours, unleashing terror on the community before fleeing.
As of about 11:30am on Tuesday, locals said corpses were still being recovered from surrounding bushes and homes, raising fears that the death toll could climb further. Several injured victims were rushed to hospitals for emergency treatment.
A resident, who requested anonymity for security reasons, described the attack as a massacre carried out with little or no resistance.
“The attackers stormed the community before dawn and continued killing people until after 9am. Fourteen bodies have already been recovered in Efeyi-Ugboju, while another resident was killed in Ipom-Ugboju on Monday. We fear more bodies may still be found because many people remain unaccounted for,” the resident said.
