In a grim escalation of violence across Nigeria’s Middle Belt, at least 144 people have been killed in Plateau and Benue states over the last 14 days, as armed herdsmen continue their bloody rampage.
The latest attack occurred Tuesday evening in Otobi Akpa, Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, where at least 13 people were killed, many injured, and over 50 houses razed. Eyewitnesses reported that over 20 assailants stormed the community around 6 p.m., shooting indiscriminately and burning homes. Some victims were butchered with cutlasses, and several remain missing.
The attackers reportedly struck in retaliation against the state’s anti-open grazing law. Local leaders noted that Fulani herdsmen, once peaceful, have become increasingly aggressive and heavily armed in recent times.
Across the border in Plateau State, 104 people were killed in separate attacks in Bassa and Bokkos LGAs. These killings have prompted Governor Caleb Mutfwang to introduce emergency security measures, including a ban on night grazing, cattle transportation after 7:00 p.m., and motorcycle use between 7:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
“This is not random violence,” Mutfwang said in a statewide address. “It is a systematic and premeditated campaign to displace and terrorize our people. Enough is enough.”
Governor Mutfwang also ordered the reactivation of local vigilante groups and night patrols in partnership with security agencies.
Boko Haram Strikes in Adamawa
Simultaneously, Boko Haram insurgents launched a brutal attack in Hong LGA of Adamawa State early Tuesday. At least seven people, including a vigilante, were killed, and many more are missing. The attackers reportedly used explosives to target local security forces, destroying a police vehicle in the process.
“We feel abandoned. These attacks keep happening, and we’re left to fend for ourselves,” said a local leader.
National Outcry and Political Reactions
The violence has sparked outrage across Nigeria. Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, criticized President Bola Tinubu for staying abroad during the crisis. In a statement titled “Mr. President, Domestic Problems Beckon,” Obi urged the president to return from France and address the escalating insecurity.
“Over 150 Nigerians have died while the president is away. We need leadership at home, not retreat abroad,” Obi declared.
Renowned human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, also called on the federal government to enforce the national ban on open grazing and deploy military and police forces to restore order in the affected areas.
Meanwhile, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) described the Plateau killings as “barbaric” and a “national disgrace.” They demanded a full-scale security operation, compensation for victims, and the establishment of an independent investigative panel.
“Plateau, once a beacon of peace and unity, has become a killing field. The federal government must act decisively and urgently,” NEF stated.
As entire communities flee their homes, the humanitarian situation worsens. In Benue, hundreds of displaced residents have taken refuge at the Federal Government College, Otobi. Deputy Governor Samuel Ode visited the camp and assured the victims of ongoing efforts to prevent further attacks.
For now, the calls for justice and security ring louder than ever—yet, for many Nigerians in these conflict zones, help still seems painfully out of reach.
