Nigerian music legend, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, has called for urgent and collective action to end the recurring attacks that have continued to claim lives and displace communities across Benue State.
The award-winning singer made the appeal on Wednesday during a visit to Otukpo-Nobi, one of the communities recently devastated by deadly attacks in Otukpo Local Government Area.
Gunmen invaded the community on July 12, 2026, killing several residents and injuring many others.
While the Nigeria Police Force confirmed that eight people lost their lives in the attack, Amnesty International said at least 10 people were killed. Other reports placed the combined death toll from the attacks on Otukpo-Nobi and the neighbouring Akpachi community at 18.
The killings sparked protests by residents, who demanded stronger security measures and a more decisive response from authorities to halt the violence.
During his visit, 2Baba met with members of the affected community and sympathised with families who lost loved ones.
Sharing moments from the visit on his Instagram page, the Benue-born artiste described the tragedy as deeply personal.
“Benue is home. When home hurts, we all feel it. Today is about standing together, listening, and reminding one another that hope is never lost,” he wrote.
Speaking with residents, 2Baba lamented the continued bloodshed, saying the situation had become unbearable.
“It’s becoming too much now, we can’t pretend anymore. We need to begin planning. It won’t be automatic but there is definitely going to be a solution,” he said.
The singer stressed that lasting peace would require the collective efforts of residents, traditional rulers, community leaders, security agencies and government officials.
“It’s not going to be one person; we all need to come together and fight it. I came to sympathise with you all. It’s painful,” he added.
Benue State has witnessed repeated attacks over the years, with many incidents linked to disputes over land ownership, farming and grazing activities. However, security experts have consistently argued that describing every attack as a simple farmer-herder conflict fails to capture the growing role of organised criminal groups operating in parts of the state.
The violence has claimed hundreds of lives, displaced thousands of residents and forced many farming communities to abandon their homes and farmlands.
As one of Nigeria’s leading agricultural states, Benue plays a critical role in national food production. The persistent insecurity has disrupted farming activities, affected local markets and heightened concerns about food security across the country.
Barely weeks after the July 12 attack on Otukpo-Nobi, another deadly assault occurred in Efeyi village, also in Otukpo Local Government Area, on July 28, where reports indicated that at least 14 people were killed.
The recurring attacks have renewed calls for the establishment of permanent security bases in vulnerable communities, improved intelligence gathering, and faster responses to distress calls from rural areas.
Amnesty International has also urged the Federal Government and security agencies to conduct thorough investigations into the attacks and ensure that those responsible are identified, arrested and prosecuted.
