Fear has gripped residents of Benue State as suspected Fulani herdsmen continue to cause mayhem in various communities.

DAILY POST reports that Benue South (Idoma speaking area) is bearing the brunt of recent attacks, which have claimed many lives and property.

The recent wave of deadly attacks in that area has claimed nearly 60 lives, centered primarily around the Otukpo Local Government Area.

The attack, often attributed to suspected armed herdsmen, has triggered widespread protests and caused a massive humanitarian displacement crisis, with youths of the community storming the palace of the paramount ruler of the Idoma nation (Och’Idoma) with corpses of those killed by the attackers.

Many residents suspect that the fresh wave of violence involves retaliatory acts following the June 26 ambush and murder of the Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, Alhaji Ardo Risku Mohammed, and his associate, Yakubu Isa.

The recent attacks came after a yet-to-be-identified Fulani man threatened that the people of Benue State would regret the killing of the MACBAN president in the state.

DAILY POST reports that no fewer than 10 persons were confirmed dead after separate attacks by suspected armed herdsmen on communities in Otukpo Local Government Area of the state.

The attack started when suspected assailants attacked Akpachi village in Ugboju community, killing two persons and leaving several others with varying degrees of injuries.

Barely 24 hours later, the attackers invaded the Otukpo Nobi community, where eight persons were killed and several others injured.

Away from that and less than 48 hours, residents of Ondo community in Ugboju, Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, fled their homes following a fresh attack by suspected Fulani armed herdsmen.

The attackers stormed the community in the early hours of the day and opened fire, forcing residents to flee for safety.

Again, about two days later, suspected armed herders stormed Ankpechi community in Oglewu Ward, along the Otukpo-Oweto-Abuja Road in Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State, shot at residents and looted several provision stores.

Suspected armed herders also stormed Ankpechi community in Oglewu Ward, along the Otukpo-Oweto-Abuja Road in Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State, shot at residents and looted several provision stores.

The attackers were said to have stormed the area and fired sporadically forcing residents, including traders and customers, to flee for safety.

Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Ohimini Local Government Area, Mr Gabriel Adole, said the attackers were suspected armed herdsmen.

“Yes, there was an attack this morning between 8am and 9am by suspected armed herdsmen. They came to Ankpechi community in Oglewu Ward, shooting sporadically. They shot one person, forcing residents to scamper for safety,” Adole said.

‘Our blood not worthless’ – Idoma diaspora demands urgent action over Benue killings

Responding to the attacks, the Idoma Association in the United States appealed to President Bola Tinubu to take immediate and decisive action to end the persistent killings in Benue South Senatorial District.

The group described the attacks on communities in Idoma land as a sustained campaign of violence that has lasted for more than a decade.

They also termed the attacks as the “wanton slaughter, maiming and total annihilation” of the Idoma people by suspected armed herdsmen.

“With a high sense of responsibility and a bleeding heart, we are compelled to draw your attention, Your Excellency, to the wanton slaughter, maiming and total annihilation of our people, the good people of Idoma land in Benue South Senatorial District of Benue State by bloodthirsty herdsmen, a barbarism that has lasted over a decade unhindered,” the group stated.

Idoma UK Community urges Benue Govt to hunt down perpetrators

Similarly, the Idoma Community United Kingdom, ICUK, has called on the Benue State Government to work with security agencies to identify, apprehend and prosecute those responsible for the recent deadly attacks on communities in Otukpo and Ohimini local government areas of the state.

The call followed an emergency meeting of the diaspora group held on Sunday in response to the attacks, which claimed several lives and left many residents displaced.

In a communiqué signed by the President of ICUK, Chief Dr. Williams Obande, the community strongly condemned what it described as the brutal killings of innocent Idoma people and urged the government to ensure those behind the attacks are brought to justice.

“We strongly condemn the brutal killings of innocent Idoma people and call on the Benue State Government to work closely with security agencies to identify, apprehend and prosecute the perpetrators of these heinous crimes,” the communiqué read.

Speaking to DAILY POST, one of the protesters at the Och’Idoma palace, Ojima Inalegwu revealed that 16 people were killed in Otukpo Nobi, including her sister and two children.

“I am in great pain. As I speak to you now, I’m drenched in tears. I lost my only sister and her two children.

“The question I have been asking is, ‘When will all these end?’ It appears the Federal and state governments have left us to our fate. It’s quite unfortunate,” she lamented.

Another teary protester, Anebi Ogwu, recounted that a three-year-old infant’s head was shattered while on the back of his fleeing mother, and a seven-year-old who was sweeping the front of the local church around 5am was gunned down, just as the clan head of Ai-Ochaikpigwu, Ebegidi Ukwenya, almost 90 years old, was shot on his arm and stomach.

“Before the attack, one Fulani young man boldly made a viral video, threatening that they were coming to attack the Idoma nation. Instead of the government taking pro-active measures, it did not.

“Maybe it’s because this thing has not happened to any of these top government officials, that’s why they did not feel it,” he said.

Another native simply identified as Olotu blasted all the Local Government chairmen of the Benue South over their ‘non-challant attitude’ towards the tragic attacks that are almost becoming a routine in the Idoma nation.

He said, “Remember when the Benue MACBAN president was murdered. All the Local Government chairmen were running helter-skelter to television and radio houses, condemning the act.

“I’m not justifying the killing of the man. But now that scores of Idoma sons and daughters are being gruesomely killed in cold blood, they have all gone to their shells. Shame on them,” he said.