Tension erupted in Otobi, a community in the Akpa district of Otukpo Local Government Area, Benue State, following a violent incursion by suspected armed herders on Tuesday evening.
The sudden assault forced hundreds to flee, with several deaths reported and many others feared.
Edwin Emma, a distressed local, raised the alarm via a phone call to journalists as the violence unfolded.
“We are under attack in Otobi. My wife and kids are escaping as I speak. Please alert the authorities,” he pleaded.
Confirming the incident, Kennedy Angbo, who represents the Otukpo-Akpa constituency in the Benue State House of Assembly, said the attack began around 5:30 p.m.
He disclosed that at least three bodies had already been recovered, and the death toll could rise as the situation remains volatile.
“Multiple lives may have been lost, and hundreds have abandoned their homes,” Angbo said during a call with reporters.
This latest assault marks the third such attack in Otobi in April alone, amplifying local fears over escalating insecurity in the region.
Efforts to reach the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer for comment were unsuccessful, as her phone lines remained unreachable at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, Otukpo Local Government Chairman Maxwell Ogiri, speaking from Abuja, where he is handling post-election matters, also confirmed the incident.
“Yes, the attack on Otobi is real,” Ogiri said. “Though I’m in Abuja, I’ve instructed my team on the ground to collaborate with security agencies and take immediate action.”
Ogiri added that while he had yet to receive a full casualty report, preliminary updates confirmed the assault was still ongoing Tuesday evening. Security operatives, he said, had already been dispatched to manage the crisis.
He appealed to residents to remain calm and cooperate with law enforcement as efforts continue to stabilize the area and ensure the safety of displaced residents.