From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has announced the arrest of three suspected herdsmen in connection with the killing of innocent residents of Otobi Community, in Otupko Local Government Area of the state.
This is just as the death toll from last night’s attack on Otobi has risen to 11, with many other injured persons receiving medical treatment in Otukpo.
Alia, who condemned the latest attacks on Otobi, urged security agencies to go after all perpetrators and apprehend them for justice to be served.
Alia, while briefing newsmen at the Government House, Makurdi, said the National Security Advisor, Nuhu Ribadu, has promised to deploy more security assets to Benue State to arrest the renewed wave of attacks in the state, especially the Otukpo axis
The governor also announced the deployment of security agents to the affected area.
Meanwhile, the lawmaker representing Otukpo-Akpa state constituency in the Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. Kennedy Angbo, who confirmed the rising death toll yesterday, said,“Nine corpses were recovered Tuesday night, with one other that was in a hard-to-reach part of the community yesterday.”
He said, by Wednesday morning, another corpse was discovered, bringing the total to 11.
Our correspondent reports that the Deputy Governor of Benue State, Sam Ode, representing Gov. Alia, has visited the scene of the attack to commiserate with the people of Otobi, restating the state government’s resolve to end insecurity in the state.
Ode, during the visit, made some cash donations for some immediate relief, while the State Emergency Management Agency has been directed to move in for needs assessment and provide emergency response to the victims.
Residents say the sustained attacks on communities by herdsmen, beginning from Okpamaju to Asa One and Asa Two to Otobi, all along the Otukpo-Ado road leading to Ebonyi State, is assuming a worrisome dimension as there had been no prior history of conflicts with herders in the area.
They have, therefore, called on the federal and state governments to expedite action to flush out terrorist herdsmen and secure the lives and properties of residents.