Bandits launch fresh attacks in Benue, Plateau, kill 27

No fewer than 27 people have been killed in separate attacks on communities in Benue and Plateau states following fresh assaults by suspected armed groups, deepening concerns over the worsening security situation in both states.

In Benue State, at least 18 people lost their lives in separate attacks on communities in Otukpo Local Government Area, while nine members of the same family, including a two-month-old baby, were killed in attacks on Kum and Wereng-Camp communities in Riyom Local Government Area.

The violence in Benue reportedly began on Friday when suspected armed herders attacked Akpachi village in Ugboju community, killing two farmers on their farmland. Less than 24 hours later, the assailants struck Otukpo-Nobi community in the early hours of Sunday, killing at least 16 people and injuring several others.

The latest attacks came about two weeks after the killing of the Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Ardo Risku Mohammed, and his companion, Yakubu Isah, who were ambushed while returning from a peace meeting.

The killings sparked protests in Otukpo, where angry youths carried the bodies of victims to the palace of the Och’Idoma, disrupted a church service, and demanded urgent action from government and security agencies.

Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, confirmed the attacks and suggested they could be reprisals linked to the earlier killing of the MACBAN chairman. He said authorities were relocating survivors, providing medical assistance, and strengthening security in the affected communities.

Meanwhile, Hyacinth Alia condemned the attacks, describing them as barbaric, and directed security agencies to intensify surveillance, collaborate with neighbouring states, and ensure those responsible are arrested and prosecuted.

In Plateau State, residents said suspected gunmen invaded Kum and Wereng-Camp communities late Saturday night, shooting indiscriminately for over an hour.

According to community sources, nine members of a single family, including a two-month-old infant, were killed, while the village head sustained critical injuries during the attack.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the incident and called for the arrest and prosecution of those responsible.

Security personnel have since been deployed to the affected communities, although many residents remain displaced and fearful of further attacks.

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