News in brief:
– A violent clash between local hunters and armed herdsmen in Benue leaves three dead, displacing farmers and villagers.
– The Otukpo monarch condemns the invasion, invokes deities on collaborators, and calls for urgent security action.
A deadly clash between local hunters and armed Fulani herdsmen at Okpomaju village, Okete Ward in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State has left three people dead and several others injured. The violent encounter, which took place on Monday during a hunting expedition, has heightened fears among residents, forcing many to flee for safety.
Eyewitnesses reported that the conflict erupted when a group of armed herders, believed to be new to the community, opened fire on the hunters upon sighting them. Two hunters were killed instantly, while several others sustained serious injuries. In retaliation, the hunters shot and killed one of the attackers, leading to further chaos.
A local farmer, Oga Sunday, narrowly escaped an attack and described how an armed herder chased him from his farm, leaving his harvested crops at the mercy of grazing cattle.
“We were out on our usual hunting exercise when we encountered the armed Fulani men. They fired at us immediately, causing fatal injuries. We had no choice but to defend ourselves. One of our colleagues, who was shot in the abdomen, was rushed to the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Otukpo, for treatment,” another hunter, who requested anonymity, said.
Growing fear and displacement
The attack has sparked fears of reprisals, with residents of nearby communities, including Akpachi, Oboh, and parts of Ugboju District, abandoning their homes and farmlands. The local authorities are working to calm tensions, but many fear further violence.
Confirming the incident, the traditional ruler of Otukpo, Och’Otukpo Odu, Chief John Eimonye, assured residents that efforts were underway to prevent escalation. He stated that he was set to meet with herder leaders to seek a lasting resolution to the crisis.
The Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Council, Maxwell Ogiri, also confirmed the incident and said steps were being taken to ensure peace. “One of the resolutions reached is that herder leaders will identify and hold accountable any of their members involved in violence. They have also promised to maintain peaceful coexistence with the people of Otukpo, as many of them have lived here for generations,” Ogiri stated.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, Catherine Anene, a Chief Superintendent of Police, said she would reach out to the Otukpo Divisional Police Officer for further details on the matter.
Monarch decries herdsmen invasion
Reacting to the attack, the traditional ruler of Otukpo, Chief John Eimonye, condemned the violence and lamented the continuous invasion of his kingdom by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
In a statement issued by the Secretary of Otukpo District Traditional Council, Chief Udeh Adole, the monarch decried the herders’ aggressive incursion despite the peace efforts by Otukpo’s residents. He emphasized that his people would not be intimidated or forced to relinquish their ancestral lands.
“Despite our peaceful engagements, the Fulani herders have chosen war over land that does not belong to them. The Otukpo-Abaku kingdom will defend its land and people against any form of intimidation,” he said.
Commiserating with the families of those killed, the Och’otukpo Odu declared that the loss was not just for the bereaved families but for the entire Otukpo kingdom. He called on security agencies and all levels of government to act swiftly to prevent further bloodshed.
Invoking traditional justice
Chief Eimonye dismissed allegations that some local chiefs and residents were selling land to the herders, warning that serious investigations were underway to determine the truth.
“This is not a time for blackmail and false accusations. Anyone found to have collaborated with the Fulani attackers or engaged in secret deals will face the full wrath of the highest deities of our land. Regardless of their status, they will not go unpunished,” he warned.
He further called for unity among the people of Otukpo and urged them to stand together against external aggression.
As tensions remain high, all eyes are on the state government and security agencies to restore calm and protect lives and properties in the troubled community.
