Benue: Outrage in Ichama as herdsman murders father hours after child dies at birth

Ojoga community in Ichama, Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State, has been thrown into mourning and fear following the gruesome murder of 22-year-old Joseph Gabriel Obitiye by a suspected Fulani herdsman, identified as Suleiman, the son of Nana.

The tragic incident occurred on Friday, March 28, 2025, around 11:00 pm, just hours after Obitiye had taken his wife to St. Mary’s Hospital, Okpoga, where she delivered a stillborn child.

Upon returning home, Obitiye was surrounded by friends who gathered to console him. However, the night took a deadly turn when six armed herdsmen, wielding AK-47 rifles and machetes, approached a nearby shop intending to loot provisions and food items—a problem locals say has been on the rise.

An eyewitness said Obitiye, unaware they were armed, walked toward the group and questioned their presence at such an odd hour. Moments later, his friends heard him exclaim, “It’s Suleiman, Nana’s son!”, followed by gunshots.

Panic erupted as his friends fled, while the attackers continued shooting before vanishing into the forest. When the gunfire ceased, they rushed back to find Obitiye lying in a pool of blood, murmuring “Suleiman, Nana’s son” before taking his last breath.

He was rushed to St. Mary’s Hospital, but doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.

The news of his murder spread rapidly, sparking outrage among residents. At dawn, a group of local youths and hunters mobilized and stormed the herdsmen’s settlement, only to find it completely abandoned, suggesting the herders had fled overnight.

The case has since been reported to the Nigerian Police and other security agencies in Okpokwu LGA, with residents demanding swift justice.

Locals have voiced growing concerns over the rising violence linked to Fulani herdsmen. While both groups had coexisted peacefully for years, tensions escalated in 2022, when a resident was allegedly killed by herdsmen. Since then, at least three more community members have been murdered in similar attacks.

Many are now urging the Benue State government and federal authorities to take immediate action to prevent the herders from returning and to bring those responsible to justice.

Community leaders insist that security must be strengthened to curb the growing violence and protect lives.

Meanwhile, Professor Benjamin Okaba, President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), has condemned the incident, warning that the continued inaction of authorities could lead to further bloodshed and retaliation from locals.