Benue: Otukpo restricts movement from 6pm to 6am after deadly Ugboju attack

The Otukpo Local Government Council has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew following Tuesday’s deadly attack on the Efeyi community in Ugboju, Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, which claimed more than 22 lives and triggered protests by angry residents.

The curfew, which takes effect daily from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., was announced by the Chairman of Otukpo LGA, Maxwell Ogiri, as part of measures to restore calm and prevent further unrest.

Ogiri said the decision followed consultations with community leaders after intelligence reports indicated that some aggrieved youths planned to stage protests by conveying the bodies of victims to the palace of the Och’Idoma.

According to him, security personnel have since been deployed to strategic locations, including the royal palace, to prevent any breakdown of law and order.

“We are trying to ensure that nobody takes advantage of this unfortunate incident to create further unrest. After consultations with stakeholders, we agreed to impose a curfew from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. to restore peace and protect lives and property,” Ogiri said.

The attack occurred in the early hours of Tuesday when suspected armed assailants invaded the farming community, killing scores of residents and leaving many others with varying degrees of injuries.

However, the Benue State Police Command said preliminary investigations indicated that the attackers had invaded the community to rustle cattle belonging to a resident, Peter Ambulus, before opening fire on farmers and other residents while escaping with the stolen livestock.

Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, said operatives responded immediately after receiving a distress call from the community.

She disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, CP Emenari Ifeanyi, personally led tactical teams on a clearance operation during which security operatives came under ambush from the fleeing suspects.

According to the police, two of the suspected attackers were killed during a gun battle, while an AK-47 rifle and 15 rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the scene. She added that operations were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects, recover the rustled cattle and bring all those connected with the attack to justice.

The police commissioner condemned the attack, extended condolences to the bereaved families and assured residents that additional security personnel had been deployed to the area to prevent further attacks.

Meanwhile, residents said the casualty figure has continued to rise, with more than 22 bodies recovered and over 35 persons currently receiving treatment for injuries sustained during the attack.

One of the critically injured victims, who suffered a gunshot wound to the head, was referred to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi, for specialised medical care.

A survivor, who identified himself simply as Egbe, described the incident as one of the darkest moments in the history of the community.

“Our people were slaughtered without provocation. They killed the young, the elderly, women and children. Bodies were lying everywhere.

“So far, we have recovered about 22 corpses, but the search is still ongoing because many people are still missing. Our local hospitals have been overwhelmed by the number of injured victims,” he said.