A security guard was tragically killed late Friday night, reportedly by suspected herdsmen, at the Otobi Dam in the Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.
This attack is part of a series of violent incidents that have plagued the Otukpo area in recent weeks.
Angbo Kennedy, the lawmaker representing the Otukpo/Akpa State Constituency in the Benue State House of Assembly, confirmed the attack and emphasized the urgent need for intervention to end the ongoing violence. He stated, “The situation is becoming unbearable. A guard was killed tonight at the Otobi Dam by suspected herdsmen. We must look out for each other and consider self-help as a solution.”
As of the time of this report, the identity of the deceased guard has not been officially disclosed, and no arrests have been made related to the attack.
Residents are urging the Benue State Government and security agencies to enhance surveillance and deploy additional personnel to vulnerable rural areas, particularly around key infrastructure such as the Otobi Dam. This attack follows a pattern of similar killings in communities such as Okpomaju, Okete, and Asa within Otukpo LGA earlier this year, which have resulted in several fatalities and widespread displacement.
In a separate incident just the day before, gunmen hijacked a fully-loaded bus belonging to Benue Links, resulting in the deaths of two passengers and the kidnapping of 13 others. This underscores the growing security concerns in the region.
