Black Weekend: Family of Nine, 18 Others Killed in Fresh Benue, Plateau Attacks

A wave of deadly attacks across Benue and Plateau states has claimed the lives of at least 27 people, including an entire family of nine, in what has been described as another tragic weekend of violence in Nigeria’s North-Central region.  

In Benue State, suspected armed attackers launched separate assaults on communities in Otukpo Local Government Area. The violence began with the killing of two farmers in Akpachi village before gunmen struck Otukpo-Nobi community in the early hours of Sunday, where at least 16 more people, including women and children, lost their lives. Several others sustained injuries while many residents fled for safety.  

The attacks sparked widespread outrage as angry youths carried the bodies of the victims to the palace of the Och’Idoma in protest, accusing authorities of failing to protect their communities. Major roads in Otukpo were blocked for hours, disrupting commercial and vehicular activities.  

Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, said the attacks appeared to be reprisals following the recent killing of the Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and another individual. He assured residents that security had been reinforced while efforts were underway to prevent further violence.  

Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the killings, describing them as barbaric and inhuman. He vowed that his administration would continue working with security agencies to restore peace and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.  

In neighbouring Plateau State, another deadly attack reportedly claimed the lives of a family of nine alongside other victims, further highlighting the worsening security situation in parts of the North-Central region. The fresh bloodshed has renewed calls for stronger security measures to protect vulnerable communities and prevent further loss of lives.