A councillorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Amedu Agaba, along with four others, lost their lives on Wednesday night as violent clashes between armed herdsmen and local residents escalated in Okpomaju village, Okete Ward, Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State.
The deadly assault left several individuals injured, while at least ten people remain unaccounted for, heightening fear and tension in the region. The latest wave of violence comes just days after a separate attack in the same community, where suspected herders allegedly mistook local hunters for hostile forces, resulting in the deaths of three residents.
Efforts for Peace Shattered by Renewed Violence
In an attempt to de-escalate tensions, the traditional ruler of Otukpo, Och’Otukpo Odu, Chief John Eimonye, had convened a peace meeting between Fulani leaders and local community heads. The meeting aimed to foster dialogue and prevent further bloodshed. However, despite initial commitments to maintaining peace, hostilities reignited on Wednesday night when armed herders reportedly stormed Okpomaju, opening fire indiscriminately.
A resident who spoke with journalists described the attack as unprovoked, stating that the local hunters were in their homes when a group of about 12 armed men invaded the village, wielding sophisticated firearms and shooting at random.
Panic as Residents Flee for Safety
Among those killed in the onslaught was Peter, popularly known as JPG, and another individual identified as Moses. The assailants’ assault forced residents of Okpomaju and neighboring communities—including Odudaje, Amla, Emichi, Otukpo-Icho, and Otada (which houses the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo)—to flee their homes in search of safety.
A source involved in the search-and-rescue operations revealed that some victims’ bodies were discovered in nearby bushes, bringing the total number of confirmed fatalities to five. One of the victims was found near the Odudaje stream, while the community continues searching for missing persons.
“As we speak, we are at the burial site of one of the victims while waiting for the other bodies to be retrieved from the mortuary,” the source disclosed.
Government Responds to Escalating Tensions
Confirming the incident, Otukpo Local Government Chairman, Maxwell Ogiri, stated that security forces, including the police and military, had been deployed to the area to prevent further escalation.
In a bid to restore calm, Benue State Deputy Governor, Dr. Samuel Ode, who is from Otukpo, led a high-powered delegation to the affected community on Thursday. His visit aimed to assess the level of destruction, engage with community leaders, and urge all parties to embrace peace.
Despite these interventions, residents remain fearful, as past efforts at resolving similar conflicts have often yielded little success. The continued attacks underscore the urgent need for lasting solutions to the recurring clashes between herders and local farmers in Benue State, a region long plagued by such violence.
