Barely twenty four hours after the herdsmen had attacked Otobi in Otukpo local government area of Benue state, about three communities in the same local government were again attacked by suspected armed herdsmen.
The affected communities include: Emichi, Okpomaju and Odudaje in Otukpo were simultaneous attacked on Wednesday by the armed herdsmen militia.
Our checks have revealed that there were casualties but it was not yet clear the number of death recorded so far. But a resident of the area, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said those who sustained gunshots were taken to the hospital for medical attention while people in the affected communities as well as the neighbouring communities had to flee for safety.
Meanwhile, the Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia has confirmed the arrest of three suspected herders in connection with the killings in Otobi village on Tuesday night.
The Council Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Maxwell Ogiri, who confirmed the attack on the three communities, revealed that the attackers stormed the communities even when CP was at the Och’ Idoma palace.
According to him, about three people sustained various degrees of injuries during the attacks on the three communities.
He lamented that the calculated and unprovoked attack led to the abandonment of women and Children in the affected communities.
The Chairman explained that “Only young men were in the communities when the attackers arrived.’
He also revealed that following the prompt response from combined security operatives made the attackers to flee even as none of them was arrested.
The attack on Otobi community which happened twenty-fours before the attack on the three communities led to the death of 13 persons including children as corpses have been recovered.
At the time of filing the report there was no official statement from the Benue State Police Command as the spokesperson was yet to respond to calls and messages.
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