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From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Following Sunday’s deadly attack on Otukpo Nobi community in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, the Och’Otukpo Odu, Chief John Eimonye, has ordered all armed herders and terrorists to vacate every part of Otukpo land with immediate effect.
The directive was contained in a statement signed by the Secretary of the Otukpo District Traditional Council, Chief Udeh Adole, and made available to journalists in Makurdi on Monday.
Gunmen suspected to be armed herders invaded Otukpo Nobi in the early hours of Sunday, killing 18 persons in their sleep and injuring several others.
According to the statement, the royal father’s directive followed growing concerns that the continued presence of armed herders and criminal elements poses a serious threat to the safety and well-being of the peaceful people of the Otukpo Kingdom.
Chief Eimonye stressed that the directive should not be interpreted as an act of prejudice or ethnic profiling, but rather as the appeal of a traditional ruler determined to safeguard the lives and property of his people.
He said: “This directive should not be interpreted as an act of prejudice or profiling against any group. Rather, it is the heartfelt appeal of a deeply concerned leader and father who is seeking to protect the lives, security and peace of his people in the face of repeated security challenges.”
Lamenting the recurring attacks, the monarch decried what he described as the continued neglect of his people, who have been left at the mercy of marauding attackers.
He vowed that Otukpo District would never be taken over by criminal elements, insisting that the people of the Otukpo Abakwu Kingdom would defend their ancestral land at all costs.
Meanwhile, the Benue State chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has condemned the attack and killing of residents in Otukpo Nobi.
In a statement signed by the State Secretary, Ibrahim Gamla, the association condemned the violence in the strongest terms but cautioned against linking the incident to Fulani herders without the outcome of investigations by security agencies.
The statement read in part: “It is important for the public to note that all Fulani residents in Otukpo and its environs were forcefully evicted from the area sometime last year. This included their community leader in Otukpo, Chairman Yenusa, who left the state after all efforts to restore peace in Otukpo failed following that incident.
“Secondly, it has come to our notice that Otukpo-Nobi and neighbouring communities such as Okete, Amla-Icho and Otada have existing communal disputes. The last of such clashes resulted in the killing of four persons, a development that was widely reported, including by the Daily Trust Newspaper on May 14, 2024.
“We have also received reports of two persons allegedly killed in Akpachi village, Ugboju. However, there is no cogent evidence yet to confirm whether the attack occurred or whether two lives were actually lost.
“We therefore call on the general public to refrain from linking this incident to a reprisal attack over the killing of Ardo Risku in Okudu, near Ohimini.”
MACBAN maintained that drawing conclusions before the completion of investigations could undermine ongoing efforts by security agencies to establish the facts.
The association also urged the Federal Government and security agencies to monitor social media activities, alleging that some content creators were making inflammatory posts capable of escalating tensions.
It called on its members and the general public to remain calm and law-abiding while investigations continue.
“We have full confidence in the security agencies to unravel the truth and bring the perpetrators to justice, no matter who they are,” the association stated.
MACBAN also prayed for the repose of the souls of those killed, speedy recovery for the injured and the restoration of lasting peace in Otukpo and across Benue State.
