Herdsmen killings: Idoma traditional rulers condemn, urges govts to halt killings 

From Attah Ede, Makurdi 

The Mayor of Otukpo, Aloga Ignatius Ogbogo, on behalf of Och` Idoma, HRM Elaigwu Odogbo Obagaji John, and the entire Idoma Traditional Council, has  condemned  in strong term, the brutal and senseless killings of seven youths and hunters of Otukpo origin in Okpomaju village, Okete Ward, Otukpo District, Benue State.

 He described the incident as a premeditated attack, orchestrated by armed bandits with the intent to instill fear and destabilize the community.

This tragic event, he noted, mirrors similar attacks in Agatu, Guma, and Gwer-West Local Government Areas, where armed assailants have continued to threaten, displace, and murder innocent locals, maintaining that such atrocities will not be tolerated in Okpomaju or any other village in Idoma land any longer.

Ogbogo questioned the motives behind the attack, emphasizing that the perpetrators could not have been local herdsmen, who, if aggrieved, would have reported any concerns to community leaders or security agencies rather than resorting to violence.

In a statement in Otukpo made available to newsmen in Makurdi, the Mayor called for heightened security surveillance in Okpomaju and its neighboring communities to ensure that the culprits are swiftly identified and brought to justice.

 He further urged both the State and Federal Governments to establish a police post and a military unit of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) in Okpomaju to curb the activities of criminal elements not only there but also in surrounding farming communities, including Odudaje, Otukpo-Icho, Emichi, Amla, and Otukpo-Nobi.

The Mayor appealed to the State Government to strictly enforce the ban on open grazing, which he believes will mitigate conflicts between herders and local farmers.

Ogbogo further called on the youths of Otukpo to exercise restraint and avoid any form of reprisal attacks, assuring them that security agencies are fully committed to ensuring justice is served.

He extends his deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones in this tragic incident and prays for God’s comfort and strength in this difficult time