Panic spread across Otobi community in Benue State on Tuesday evening as suspected armed herders launched a fresh assault, displacing residents.
The attack, which began around 5:30 p.m., reportedly left several people feared dead and forced hundreds to flee their homes in search of safety.
A resident of the area, Edwin Emma, confirmed the development in a distressed phone call. “We are being attacked by herdsmen at Otobi community. My wife and children are fleeing as I speak. Please call for help,” he said.
Confirming the incident, the lawmaker representing Otukpo-Akpa constituency in the Benue State House of Assembly, Kennedy Angbo, disclosed that three corpses had been recovered, while many more deaths were feared.
“Right now, many people are feared dead, and hundreds have fled the community,” Angbo said during a phone conversation with journalists.
This marks the third attack on Otobi community in the month of April, further deepening the sense of insecurity in the Akpa district of Otukpo Local Government Area.
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Efforts to get an official response from the Benue State Police Command proved unsuccessful as the Police Public Relations Officer’s phone lines did not connect at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, confirmed the incident to our correspondent in a telephone conversation from Abuja, where he is attending to post-election matters.
“Yes, the attack by herders on Otobi community is confirmed,” Ogiri stated. “Though I am in Abuja, I have directed my aides in Otobi and Akpa district to mobilise security personnel to the area.”
He added that, as of Tuesday evening, he had not received a full report on the casualties but assured that efforts were being made to manage the crisis.
“I’ve been informed that the attack is ongoing. While I’ve not received confirmation of deaths yet, I expect clearer details by tomorrow,” he said.
Ogiri urged residents to remain calm, assuring them that security agencies had been deployed to restore order.
Punch
