Suspected armed herders killed at least 16 residents in the Nobi community of Otukpo Local Government Area, Benue State, in an early morning attack on Sunday, July 12, 2026. The incident triggered street protests that blocked major roads into the ancient town, including the Enugu–Otukpo and Makurdi–Otukpo routes, as angry youths and women demanded government action.
Details of the Attack
According to local resident Comfort Inalegwu, who spoke in a telephone interview with The Punch, the attackers opened fire on the community between 3:30 a.m. and 4:30 a.m., forcing residents to flee their homes. “At least 16 people were killed this morning during the attack. I lost my sister and two of her children in the attack. The Fulani entered her house and shot them. Their corpses are now at the morgue of Otukpo General Hospital,” Inalegwu said. She added that several people sustained injuries and many community members remained unaccounted for at the time of her interview.
In a related incident, Daily Trust reported that the attackers struck Akpachi village in the Ugboju community on Saturday evening, killing two farmers. The suspected herdsmen then launched another attack on Otukpo-Nobi in the early hours of Sunday, where eight other residents, mostly women and children, were killed.
Protests Shut Down Otukpo Roads
Furious over the bloodshed, youths and women from the community marched through major streets in Otukpo, including the forecourt of the Och'Idoma's palace, to register their anger. By the time this report was filed, demonstrators had sealed all entry points into the town, including the Enugu–Otukpo and Makurdi–Otukpo roads. Inalegwu warned that women would sustain the protest and actively work to prevent elections from holding in the area if the government failed to stop the recurring killings in Idoma land.
Governor Alia Condemns the Attack
Governor Hyacinth Alia described the violence as “not only a breach of peace, but also a barbaric and inhuman assault on the sanctity of life and the collective soul of the people of Benue State.” In a statement from his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, the governor said the assailants invaded Akpachi Village in Akpa between 3:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. while residents were asleep. Alia shared in the grief of the people of Otukpo and the wider Benue South Senatorial District, stating, “Your lives are precious, and I can assure you that your ancestral lands will not be surrendered to fear.”
Security Measures and Investigation
Governor Alia directed security agencies to coordinate with counterparts in neighbouring states and step up patrols across vulnerable communities and border areas. He also called for the arrest and prosecution of those responsible and urged residents to share credible intelligence with security forces. The state police spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, said the state command has launched an investigation into the ambush attack.
This incident follows the killing of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) chairman, Ardo Muhammad, and his companion in Benue State, which had already sparked tension among residents. In another recent tragedy, suspected bandits attacked former Benue State SSG, David Salifu, along the Wukari-Makurdi road, killing him after he resisted their instructions. Salifu died on July 3, 2026, at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi.
