Angry protesters on Sunday stormed the palace of the paramount ruler of the Idoma Nation, the Och’Idoma, His Royal Majesty Agabaidu Elaigwu John Odogbo, over a fresh attacks by Fulani herdsmen which claimed 10 lives.
According report, the incident occurred in two separate communities in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.
A security source who spoke to the media said that the first attack took place on Saturday at Akpachi village in Ugboju, where two persons were killed and several others sustained injuries.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the second attack occurred around 3 a.m. on Sunday when armed assailants invaded Otukpo Nobi village, killing no fewer than eight residents while they were asleep.
Enraged by the killings, youths reportedly carried the victims’ corpses to the Och’Idoma Palace to register their grievances and demanded urgent action from the government.
Sources linked the attacks to alleged reprisals following the June 26 killing of the Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Ardo Risku Mohammed, and his associate, Yakubu Isah, who were attacked while returning from a peace meeting in Ohimini Local Government Area.
Police had earlier confirmed the arrest of 17 suspects in connection with the killing of the MACBAN chairman.
As of the time of this report, the police in Benue has not commented on the matter.
