A fresh wave of violence struck Otobi, a community located in the Akpa district of Otukpo Local Government Area, Benue State, on Tuesday evening.
This is as suspected herdsmen launched a brutal assault that left scores feared dead and forced hundreds of residents to flee their homes.
The attack, which erupted around 5:30 p.m., triggered widespread panic among villagers.
A local resident, Edwin Emma, made a frantic call to journalists amid the chaos, revealing the scale of the threat.
“We are being attacked here in Otobi. My wife and children are running for their lives. Please send help,” he cried.
Kennedy Angbo, the lawmaker representing Otukpo-Akpa in the Benue State House of Assembly, confirmed the incident, revealing that at least three bodies had been discovered.
He warned that the casualty figure could rise as more residents were unaccounted for.
“Many lives are feared lost, and the number of displaced persons continues to grow,” Angbo stated in a phone conversation.
This is the third reported assault on Otobi in April alone, intensifying concerns about the deteriorating security situation in the area.
Efforts to obtain an official statement from the Benue State Police spokesperson were unsuccessful, as her contact lines could not be reached as of press time.
From Abuja, where he is attending to post-election matters, Otukpo Local Government Chairman Maxwell Ogiri also confirmed the attack.
Ogiri stated that while he had not yet received full details regarding casualties, he had already instructed his aides to liaise with security operatives to contain the crisis and restore order.
“I have received reports of the attack and directed my team in Otobi and Akpa to mobilize law enforcement to the affected area immediately,” he said.
He urged residents to remain calm and law-abiding, assuring them that efforts were underway to secure the community and support those displaced by the attack.