Herdsmen attack: Otukpo Nobi-community rejects Benue Govt’s N5m donation

The people of Otukpo-Nobi community in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State have rejected the ₦5 million support presented by the Benue State Government following the recent massacre that claimed more than 20 lives in the community.

The donation was announced on Monday when a delegation led by the Deputy Governor of Benue State, Dr. Sam Ode, visited the affected community on behalf of Governor Hyacinth Alia to sympathise with families of the victims.

The delegation, which also included the Commissioner of Police in Benue State, CP Cletus C.N Nwadiogbu, the member representing Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency, Hon. Blessing Onuh, and other government officials, conveyed the government’s condolences and pledged continued support for the bereaved families.

However, community leaders and residents declined the ₦5 million gesture, insisting that no amount of money could compensate for the lives lost in the attack.

One of the residents, who spoke on condition of anonymity, questioned the amount offered by the government, alleging that a larger donation was made to the family of a late Fulani chieftain.

“When the government visited the late Fulani leader’s family, they reportedly donated about ₦30 million. Now they are bringing ₦5 million to our community after more than 20 people were killed. What do they expect us to do with it? We don’t need their money; we need an end to the killings in Benue South. We want justice for those who have been murdered and security so our people can return to their farms and homes without fear,” the resident said.

The community reportedly urged the government to prioritise justice for the victims, the arrest and prosecution of those behind the killings, and stronger security measures to prevent further attacks on communities in Otukpo and other parts of Idoma land.

Residents also appealed to both the Benue State Government and the Federal Government to deploy adequate security personnel to vulnerable communities and ensure that displaced families can return to their homes without fear.

The attack on Otukpo-Nobi, which occurred over the weekend, left scores of residents dead and many others injured, drawing widespread condemnation from political leaders, socio-cultural organisations and civil society groups.