Otukpo massacre: Benue govt has abandoned its duty to protect citizens — Peter Adejoh

African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship aspirant in Benue State, Dr. Peter Adejoh, has condemned the deadly attacks on Otukpo Nobi and Ugboju Ehaje communities in Otukpo Local Government Area, accusing the Benue State Government of failing in its constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Adejoh described the attacks as “horrific” and “barbaric,” expressing condolences to the families of those killed and communities devastated by the violence.

“It is with a profound sense of grief, outrage, and deep sorrow that I fiercely condemn the horrific, barbaric terrorist attacks unleashed upon our helpless citizens in Otukpo Nobi and Ugboju Ehaje,” he said.

According to the governorship hopeful, reports from the affected communities revealed that innocent lives were lost, families were torn apart, and residents were forced to flee following the attacks by armed assailants.

However, Adejoh said beyond mourning the victims, attention must be focused on what he described as the government’s failure to provide adequate security for citizens.

“The Benue State Government has completely abandoned its primary constitutional duty to proactively protect the lives and properties of citizens of the state,” he alleged.

He accused the state leadership of remaining “non-responsive, detached, and utterly paralyzed by institutional inertia” while communities continued to come under repeated attacks.

According to him, the latest killings were not isolated incidents but the consequence of what he described as a lack of decisive and proactive security measures.

“Today’s tragedies in Otukpo Nobi and Ugboju Ehaje are not isolated incidents; they are the direct consequence of a leadership that chooses political grandstanding and bureaucratic excuses over decisive, actionable security measures,” Adejoh said.

The ADC aspirant further criticised the government’s response to previous attacks, alleging that affected communities often received little more than statements after the violence, without adequate relief or support for survivors.

“Our people are being slaughtered in their homes, yet all they receive from the state government is silence, empty press releases after the damage is done, and a shocking lack of post-attack care or tangible support for the displaced and traumatised survivors,” he stated.

Calling for urgent intervention, Adejoh urged federal security agencies to immediately deploy tactical units to the affected communities, track down the perpetrators and restore peace.

“I call on the federal security agencies to step into the gap immediately, bypass the local administrative lethargy, and deploy tactical units to restore order and track down the perpetrators of this heinous crime,” he said.

He also appealed to residents of Otukpo Nobi, Ugboju Ehaje and other affected communities to remain united despite the tragedy, assuring them that they were not alone in their grief.

Adejoh, who is seeking the ADC governorship ticket ahead of the 2027 election, has consistently identified insecurity as one of the major challenges facing Benue State and pledged to prioritise security if elected.