Bandits have carried out a fresh attack on the Umogidi community in the Entekpa Council ward of Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, resulting in the deaths of two farmers. Additionally, two other community members sustained injuries, and one individual was abducted by the bandits in this latest assault, which appears to be aimed at driving the residents from their ancestral land.
Local sources, who preferred to remain anonymous, revealed that the deceased had recently fled their homes following a previous attack but had returned to their farms in Umogidi when they were fatally attacked on Tuesday. The other three victims were also reportedly working on their farms when they were targeted by the bandits. One was abducted, while the other two sustained injuries during the incident.
Speaking to journalists over the phone on Thursday, one local resident disclosed, “The bandits are now demanding N5 million as ransom for the kidnapped victims. All of these victims are internally displaced persons (IDPs) who ventured to gather food from their farms and were assaulted by the same armed herders who previously displaced them from their homes.”
Confirming the incident during a telephone conversation with journalists on Thursday, Alfred Oketa Omakwu, the Caretaker Chairman of Otukpo LGA, affirmed that the victims were IDPs who had gone to their farms on Tuesday but were attacked.
He verified the deaths of two individuals and mentioned that the bandits launched another assault on Upu village in Otukpo on Wednesday. However, soldiers repelled the attackers, engaging them in a gun battle from the afternoon until 7 pm.
The chairman emphasized that no fatalities were recorded in the Wednesday attack due to the prompt response of the soldiers.
Omakwu elaborated, “The IDPs have sought refuge in St. Charles Primary School, and many of them, while heading to their farms to gather produce, have rented a single room for their families in Adoka central.”
“They departed from Adoka, where they were sheltering, to work on their farms in Umogidi when the attack occurred, resulting in two fatalities.”
He continued, “Yesterday, there was another attack in Upu village. The armed intruders opened fire on the village, but soldiers were present. They engaged the attackers, driving them into the bush. The exchange of gunfire continued until 7 pm, and the assailants fled. There were no casualties.”
Efforts to reach the police spokesperson, Catherine Anene, for comment were unsuccessful, as her phone line was unreachable.
