Security agents have evacuated 16 slain victims reportedly killed predawn attack by gunmen after suspected armed herders launched a predawn attack on Efeyi Community in Ugboju, Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State on Tuesday, residents and local authorities have said.
The attack which left several others with life threatening injuries, according to residents who alleged that the attackers stormed the community at about 5:00 a.m., opening fire indiscriminately on villagers. The assault reportedly lasted for about four hours, leaving scores of residents dead, injured and others unaccounted for.
Community members, Inalegwu Oche and Adanu Oglewu, said the assailants operated unhindered despite repeated distress calls to security agencies.
According to them, security personnel did not arrive until after the attackers had fled, while local youths continued to search nearby bushes for missing relatives and recover bodies.
“We are completely vulnerable. We alerted the security agencies immediately the attack started, but the soldiers and police stationed around Ugboju and Ogobia did not come until everything was over”, Oche lamented.
Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, confirmed the attack but said the exact casualty figure was yet-to-be verified.
Ogiri alleged that the attackers were armed herders, describing the incident as part of a series of attacks on communities in the area.
“The same armed militia invaded the community and attacked innocent people in their homes without provocation. Similar attacks occurred in other villages on Sunday and Monday. They seem to strike communities at will”, he said.
On the security situation, the Council chairman noted that although security operatives were present in Otukpo, decisions on their operational deployment were beyond his authority.
The latest attack comes amid growing concerns over the resurgence of deadly attacks in several Benue communities despite increased security presence in parts of the state.
Reacting to the incident, the Benue State Police Command confirmed that it had received reports of the attack.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, said officers had been deployed to the affected community to restore normalcy and commence investigations.
“The command is aware of the incident that occurred in the early hours of Tuesday. Police officers have been deployed to the scene and are taking necessary steps to restore calm while a thorough investigation is ongoing,” she said.
Edet revealed that the situation was being closely monitored and assured that further details would be released as investigations progressed.
Several women and children are said to be displaced and others unaccepted for at the time of filing this report.
