More harrowing details have emerged from the deadly attacks on Akpachi Village and Otukpo-Nobi community in Otukpo Local Government Area, as Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the killings and extended condolences to bereaved families.
Following our earlier report, AkweyaTV heard that residents said the suspected armed herdsmen struck in the early hours of Sunday, leaving several people dead and many others injured. Eyewitness accounts reaching AkweyaTV suggest the attackers invaded the communities around 5:00 a.m., when most residents were still asleep or preparing for the day.
According to survivors, one of the victims yet to be identified had woken up to sweep the Catholic Church in the community when she was killed. Another man was said to have been on his way to work when gunshots rang out. Witnesses said he turned back and ran toward his house, but was shot before he could get home.
A woman identified as Julie was also caught in the attack while fleeing with three of her children. One of the children, strapped to her chest, was hit by a bullet in the back. The bullet reportedly passed through the child and struck Julie in the arm, while she watched the other children fall to gunfire.
“These men came at 5 a.m. this morning,” one resident said, describing the scale of the violence and the panic that followed.
The fresh killings have deepened fear and anger across Benue South, where communities have repeatedly come under attack in recent months. Governor Alia, in a statement on Sunday, described the incident as barbaric and inhuman, saying the state would not surrender its ancestral lands to fear.
He ordered security agencies to intensify surveillance, liaise with counterparts in neighbouring states, and hunt down the perpetrators for arrest and prosecution.
The attacks come amid renewed concerns over insecurity in Otukpo, weeks after the killing of the Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Ardo Risku Mohammed, and his associate, Yakubu Isah, in the area.
As of press time, security agencies had yet to issue an official statement on the latest killings.
Meanwhile, the Benue State Police Command two days ago arrested seven additional suspects, including an 80-year-old man, in connection with the June 26 killing of the Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Ardo Risku Mohammed, and his associate, Yakubu Isa.
The newly arrested suspects are Chief Morgan Ejaga (43), Chief Moses Anteyi (45), Chief John Ogli (58), Chief Yawuhu Adaji (49), Sylvester Ajonye (80), Aba Alexander Uloko (59), and Fidelis Iduma (45). Their arrest brings the total number of suspects in police custody to 17.
The victims were killed while returning from a peace meeting in Ohimini Local Government Area. Benue State Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, said the arrests resulted from intelligence-led operations and assured that investigations are continuing, with all those found culpable to face prosecution. He also appealed to residents to remain calm and provide credible information that could assist the ongoing investigation. The latest killings come after the appeal for calm.
Full text of Press release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GOVERNOR ALIA CONDEMNS DEADLY ATTACKS IN OTUKPO, ORDERS SECURITY AGENCIES TO HUNT DOWN PERPETRATORS
Sunday, July 12, 2026
Governor Hyacinth Alia expresses profound sadness and the strongest condemnation following the early morning attacks by suspected armed herdsmen on Akpachi Village and the Otukpo-Nobi community in Otukpo Local Government Area.
He describes the attacks 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.
The suspected armed herdsmen reportedly invaded Akpachi Village in Akpa, Otukpo Local Government Area, between 3:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. while residents were asleep. The attackers killed scores of people, while many others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
The Governor says he is particularly pained that the attacks occurred at a time when the state government has been working closely with traditional rulers and security agencies to foster lasting peace and harmony.
He states that “these acts of mindless bloodshed are a direct attempt to sabotage the progress of our state.”
Governor Alia shares in the grief and anger of the people of Otukpo and the entire Benue South Senatorial District, saying “your lives are precious, and I can assure you that your ancestral lands will not be surrendered to fear.”
He warns that while the people of Benue have consistently demonstrated remarkable restraint and a commitment to peace, such restraint must never be mistaken for weakness.
”My government stands firmly with you, and we will not allow our communities to be turned into killing fields,” he declares.
Governor Alia also issues a clear and immediate directive to all security agencies operating in the state to liaise with their counterparts in neighbouring states and once again “swing into action” with renewed vigour by intensifying surveillance and patrols across the affected communities and border areas.
He further directs the security agencies to relentlessly pursue the perpetrators, ensure their arrest and prosecution, and deploy additional personnel and resources to protect vulnerable communities and prevent further attacks.
The Governor calls on Benue residents to remain vigilant, saying: “We urge every citizen to cooperate with the police and military by providing timely and credible intelligence. Security is a collective responsibility, and your information is a vital tool in our defence.”
While sympathising with the bereaved families and praying for the speedy recovery of the injured, Governor Alia reassures all Benue citizens that his administration remains unwavering in its commitment to safeguarding lives and property.
Sir Tersoo Kula, mnipr,
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Benue State
