By Attah Ede, Makurdi

Fresh violence erupted in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State yesterday as gunmen suspected to be armed Fulani herders attacked Ondo community in Ugboju District, killing the community’s Youth Chairman, Sunday Ogoh, and injuring several others, barely 48 hours after coordinated attacks in nearby communities claimed 18 lives.

The latest assault, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, has heightened fears among residents, with reports indicating that repeated attacks have forced many communities in Ugboju District to flee their homes.

Benue State Police Command confirmed that the attackers invaded Ondo community at about 6:10 a.m., killing Ogoh, while the Ward Head of the community and several other residents sustained varying degrees of injuries and were rushed to hospital for treatment.

Police Public Relations Officer, Udeme Edet, said tactical police teams, other security agencies, vigilante groups and civil protection personnel had been deployed to the area and were combing nearby forests in a bid to track down the attackers.

Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Prince Maxwell Ogiri, also confirmed the attack, saying security operatives swiftly responded and repelled the assailants before the violence could spread.

According to him, the situation has since been brought under control, with security forces maintaining a strong presence in the area.

The renewed attack came just two days after suspected armed herders invaded Akpachi village and Otukpo-Nobi community, also in Ugboju District, where at least 18 people were killed and scores injured in one of the deadliest attacks recorded in the area in recent times.

Amid growing concerns over the worsening security situation, Governor Hyacinth Alia on Tuesday visited Otukpo to commiserate with victims and families affected by the attacks.

The governor first visited the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Otukpo, where survivors receiving treatment were assured that the state government would bear the cost of their medical care until full recovery.

Addressing victims, community leaders and grieving families, Alia described the killings as painful and unfortunate, expressing the condolences of the government and people of Benue State to those who lost loved ones.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property, stressing that his government had continued to provide logistics and operational support to security agencies to strengthen efforts against armed groups terrorising the state.

The governor urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements to security agencies, saying community cooperation was critical to preventing future attacks.

At the palace of the Och’Idoma, His Royal Majesty Agaba’Idu Elaigwu Odogbo Obagaji John, Alia assured the traditional institution and the Idoma people that his administration would not relent until lasting peace returned to every part of the state.

“It is my duty to protect every life in Benue. We will not rest on our oars until terrorists are flushed out and peace is fully restored to our communities,” the governor said.

Residents welcomed the governor’s visit, describing it as a timely demonstration of empathy and solidarity as communities continue to grapple with the aftermath of recurring attacks.

The Federal Government says it is addressing possible bottlenecks to attract global trade and investment into Zamfara’s mining and trade sectors.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, stated this during a visit to Gov.

Dauda Lawal in Gusau, Zamfara, on Monday.

The minister urged both local and foreign investors to look beyond the insecurity narratives and explore the investment opportunities abounding in Zamfara.

Oduwole outlined key federal government initiatives aimed at attracting investors and expanding trade opportunities for businesses in the state.

She said her visit focused on three major issues, including attracting investment into Zamfara’s solid minerals sector, encouraging the state’s participation in the 2026 Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF), and integrating local manufacturers into the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

According to her, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, in collaboration with the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, is coordinating with international investors interested in Nigeria’s critical minerals sector.

Oduwole said Zamfara’s vast deposits of lithium, gold and other strategic minerals had continued to attract global attention.

The minister said Zamfara’s participation in the Intra-African Trade Fair to be hosted by Nigeria in November would provide a platform for businesses in the state to showcase their products to investors and buyers from across Africa and beyond.

She extended an invitation to Zamfara to participate and showcase its rich cultural heritage, products and investment opportunities at the continental event.

According to her, Nigeria has enormous opportunities in leather products, garments, shea products, processed foods and other locally manufactured goods already in high demand across several African countries.

The minister noted that the federal government, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), had established an Air Cargo corridor linking Nigeria with several East and Southern African destinations.

She said the UN agency had established corridors through Rwanda and Uganda Airlines as well as other carriers to facilitate faster export of goods from Africa.

Oduwole said the initiative aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic agenda of expanding non-oil exports, adding that Nigeria had already recorded significant growth in exports to African markets.

The minister disclosed that discussions had commenced with the Zamfara government to mobilise cooperatives, manufacturers and small and medium enterprises to benefit from the initiative.

Oduwole commended the Dauda Lawal administration for the ongoing investment in infrastructure, education and healthcare, describing Zamfara as increasingly attracting investors.

She said that contrary to widespread perceptions, her delegation had experienced a peaceful and welcoming environment throughout the visit.

Responding, Gov. Lawal expressed appreciation to the minister for her commitment to supporting the state’s economic development.

Lawal said Zamfara was determined to align with the federal government’s trade and investment programmes, particularly in the areas of solid minerals and industrial development.

He described the state’s abundant mineral resources as one of its greatest comparative advantages, noting that Zamfara possesses nearly all the critical minerals required for modern industries.

The governor said the recent unveiling of the $200 million lithium mining and processing plant in the state “stands as a significant milestone” as well as evidence of growing investor confidence in Zamfara.

Lawal stressed that Zamfara should not be defined solely by security challenges, saying the state was witnessing remarkable progress in infrastructure, mining, agriculture and investment.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for investors, assuring that Zamfara would fully benefit from federal government initiatives to boost trade and economic growth.

Lawal described the Zam Mining project, with the potential to create 2,000 jobs, as a drive towards economic rebirth for Zamfara.

Recall that Gov. Lawal on Saturday unveiled a $200 million lithium mining and processing plant in Boko, Zurmi Local Government Area of the state.

The plant has the potential to create 2,000 jobs and boost investor confidence. 

By Attah Ede, Makurdi

At least 18 persons have been killed and scores injured following fresh attacks by suspected armed herdsmen on Akpachi and Otukpo-Nobi communities in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, sparking widespread outrage, protests, and renewed calls for decisive action against the perpetrators.

The attacks began on Saturday when gunmen invaded Akpachi village in Ugboju Council Ward, killing two farmers and injuring several others.

In the early hours of Sunday, the assailants struck again, this time attacking sleeping residents of Otukpo-Nobi between 3:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., leaving at least 16 people dead, including women and children, while many others sustained injuries.

Although local authorities initially confirmed 10 deaths, residents and youth leaders later said additional bodies recovered from the affected communities had pushed the death toll to at least 18, with fears that more casualties could still be discovered.

The attacks triggered angry protests in Otukpo as youths carried the corpses of some victims to the palace of the Och’Idoma, His Royal Majesty Agabaidu Elaigwu John Odogbo, to register their anger over the worsening insecurity in Idoma land.

The protesters also barricaded major roads leading into Otukpo town, demanding urgent intervention by the Federal and Benue State governments to halt the recurring killings.

Residents believe the latest attacks may have been reprisals linked to the June 26 killing of the Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Ardo Risku Mohammed, and his associate, Yakubu Isah, who were murdered while returning from a peace meeting in Ohimini Local Government Area. Police had earlier announced the arrest of 17 suspects, including some traditional rulers, in connection with the incident.

Confirming the attacks, Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Prince Maxwell Ogiri, said the violence began with the killing of two farmers in Akpachi before the gunmen launched a larger assault on Otukpo-Nobi.

He said the council was working to relocate survivors to safer locations, provide emergency support for victims, and strengthen security across the area while appealing to youths to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands.

The renewed violence also forced residents of neighbouring communities, including Emichi, to flee their homes, while panic reportedly disrupted activities around the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo.

Reacting to the killings, Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the attacks, describing them as barbaric, inhuman and a direct assault on the peace and security of Benue State.

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, the governor lamented that the attacks occurred despite ongoing collaboration between the government, traditional rulers and security agencies to restore lasting peace across the state.

Alia directed security agencies to immediately intensify surveillance and patrols in the affected communities and border areas, work with security operatives in neighbouring states, and ensure that the perpetrators are tracked down, arrested and prosecuted.

He assured residents that his administration would not allow Benue communities to become “killing fields,” urging citizens to support security agencies with credible and timely intelligence.

Also condemning the attacks, Deputy Governor Dr Sam Ode described the killings as barbaric, inhuman and unacceptable. He disclosed that Governor Alia, who is currently outside the state on official assignment, had been fully briefed and had directed all heads of security agencies to move to Otukpo immediately to coordinate security operations and restore order.

Ode appealed to residents to remain peaceful, vigilant and law-abiding while cooperating with security agencies to bring those responsible to justice.

Similarly, Senator Abba Moro, representing Benue South Senatorial District and Senate Minority Leader, expressed concern over the escalating attacks, warning that continued killings could provoke a major crisis if urgent action was not taken.

He urged governments at all levels and security agencies to guarantee the safety of lives and property in the affected communities.

The senator also condemned the recent ambush and abduction of mourners transporting the remains of Deputy Corps Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Augustine Ikwue, in neighbouring Kogi State, calling for the immediate rescue of those kidnapped.

As of press time, security had been reinforced in the affected communities, but tension remained high as residents mourned the victims and demanded lasting solutions to the recurring violence in Benue State.