The Dr David Olofu Campaign Council has demanded that the Benue State Government establish a Judicial Panel of Inquiry into the killings rocking Benue South and also relocate the operational headquarters of the state's security architecture to Otukpo. This follows what the council described as a "genocidal pogrom" that claimed the lives of over 15 people across Otukpo and Ohimini local government areas.
According to the council, the attacks occurred within a few days in Efeyi-Ugboju and Ipom-Ugboju communities in Otukpo Local Government Area, and in Agadagba and Ochobo in Ohimini Local Government Area. The campaign council said homes were burnt down and farmlands destroyed during the assaults, leaving residents in distress and forcing many to flee their ancestral lands.
Judicial Panel of Inquiry Demands
The council proposed that the judicial panel, if constituted, should carry out two key functions. First, it should conduct an independent investigation into the killings and identify those responsible. Second, it should document the full scale of lives lost and property destroyed, including the damage to farming activity in affected communities, to support relief efforts and possible prosecution.
The demand was contained in a statement issued by the campaign council and made available to journalists over the weekend. The council emphasised that without a thorough inquiry, the cycle of violence would continue and perpetrators would remain unpunished.
Relocation of Security Command to Otukpo
On security, the ADC candidate proposed the immediate relocation of the Benue State Security Architecture's operational headquarters from its current location to Otukpo, the headquarters of the Benue South Senatorial District. The campaign council argued that a forward command base in Otukpo would allow security forces to respond more quickly to attacks and rebuild public confidence in the state's security system.
The council stressed that the present security arrangement has failed to protect communities in Benue South, largely due to the distance of the command centre from the flashpoints. A command post in Otukpo, they argued, would shorten response times and enable intelligence-led operations against the armed groups terrorising the area.
Appeal to Federal and State Authorities
The campaign council addressed its appeal directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Security Adviser, Benue State Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, and the Chief of Defence Staff. It urged all four to treat the situation in Benue South as a matter of national urgency, warning that the escalating violence threatens food security and regional stability.
"We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim," the council quoted Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, adding that the campaign stands firmly with the affected communities in Otukpo and Ohimini local government areas. The statement also called on traditional rulers and community leaders to cooperate with security agencies to identify the attackers.
Allegations of Land Grabbing and Mineral Exploitation
Recall that an ADC chieftain, Kelly Agaba, had earlier stated that the ongoing violence in Apa, Agatu, and Otukpo is driven by land grabbing and mineral resource control. Agaba claimed that a portion of land called Adepati Island, which is rich in minerals, was sold to Fulani interests in 2016 with government knowledge.
The Benue-indigene politician also alleged that a village called Amla-Icho has been seized by militia and turned into a fortress camp, crippling the local agro-economy. These allegations have added to the growing tension in the area, with residents calling for a federal investigation into the sale of community land.
Previous Attacks and Local Response
In a related development, armed invaders struck two communities in Otukpo Local Government Area, leaving at least 15 people dead. The Efeyi-Ugboju attack lasted over four hours, beginning from 5am on Tuesday, with locals saying the death toll could still rise as search teams comb the bushes.
Otukpo LGA Chairman Maxwell Ogiri confirmed that 14 bodies were recovered and called on the government to enforce the anti-open grazing law. He described the attack as barbaric and urged the Benue State Government to deploy more security personnel to the area. The repeated attacks have heightened concerns among residents, who are urging both state and federal authorities to take decisive action to end the bloodshed.
This is a developing story; further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
