Benue Governor Hyacinth Alia
Benue State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia has announced the arrest of three suspected herdsmen in connection with the killing of innocent residents of Otobi community in Otupko local government area of the state.
This is just as the death toll from last night attack on Otobi community has risen to 11 with many other injured persons receiving medical treatment in Otukpo.
Governor Alia who condemned fresh attacks on Otobi community urged security agencies to go after all perpetrators and apprehend them for justice.
Alia while briefing newsmen at the Government house in Makurdi, said the National Security Advisor, has promised to deploy more security assets to the State to arrest the renewed wave of attacks in the State especially Otukpo axis.
The Governor also announced the deployment of security personnel to the affected area.
Meanwhile the lawmaker representing Otukpo-Akpa state constituency at the Benue state house of assembly, Hon. Kennedy Angbo, who confirmed the rising death toll on Wednesday, said “nine corpses were recovered Tuesday night with one other that was in hard to reach part of the community yesterday.”
He said by Wednesday morning, another corpse was discovered, bringing the total to 11.
Our correspondent reports that, the Deputy Governor of Benue state, Barr Sam Ode, representing Governor Hyacinth Alia, has visited the scene of the attack to commiserate with the people of Otobi, restating the state government’s resolve to deal with rising insecurity in the state.
Ode, during the visit, made some cash donations for some immediate relief while the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has been directed to move in for needs assessment and provide emergency response to the victims.
Residents say the sustained attacks on communities by herdsmen beginning from Okpamaju to Asa One and Asa Two to Otobi all along the Otukpo-Ado road leading to Ebonyi state, is assuming a worrisome dimension as there had been no prior history of conflicts with herders in the area.
They have, therefore, called on the federal and state government to expedite action to flush out the terrorist herdsmen and secure the lives and properties of residents. (Daily Sun)
