Armed herdsmen on Tuesday night launched a deadly attack on residents of Otobi community in Akpa district of Otukpo local government area of Benue state leaving many people dead.
Sources from the area said that the attack which started at about 5.30pm, saw the burning down of houses while hordes of residents including women and children were displaced.
The lawmaker representing Otukpo-Akpa state constituency at the Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. Kennedy Angbo confirmed the development to journalists in Makurdi.
Hon. Angbo who hails from Akpa district said that unconfirmed number of persons have been killed while hundreds flee the community.
Another chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the area said that he lost his in-law in the deadly attack.
Also, resident of Otobi Community, Edwin Emma who narrowly escaped being killed said many persons were feared killed.
The survivor, called for a swift response from the state government as well as security forces, saying “the insurgents took the community unaware and launched the unprovoked attack.
“We are being attacked by herdsmen at Otobi community, my wife and children are running away with some items on their heads as I speak with you, so we need immediate response from the government”.
Otobi, is the community hosting the federal ministry of Water Resources Multipurpose water Dam
This is the second time that the community would be attacked in this month of April. The security guard at the facility was killed ten days ago.
The executive chairman of Otukpo local government council, Maxwell Ogiri, confirmed the development to newsmen.
He said already, he has directed some of his aides who are living in Otobi community and Akpa district to mobilize security personnel to the area to bring the situation under control.
Maxwell said, “Yes the attack by herders on Otobi community is confirmed. I am not around now. I am in Abuja and after the local government election tribunal judgement yesterday, I decided to stay back and put things together.
“So, this evening (Tuesday), my aides called to inform me that Otobi community is under severe attack, and that the attack is still on going.
“However, I have directed my aides around the axis to mobilize security personnel on my behalf to the area. Therefore, as I speak with you, security agents have currently been drafted to the area.
“Since I am not on ground, I am yet to get full reports of the attack. But it is a herders attack.”
The council chairman called on people of the community to remain law abiding and wait for the security agencies to do the needful.
Efforts to get the reaction of the Police Public Relations Officer, Benue State Police Command, CSP Catherine Anene failed.
