Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Och'Otukpo Odu, Chief John Eimonye, has directed all herders to vacate every part of Otukpo Kingdom with immediate effect, following Sunday's attack on Nobi Village in Otukpo District, Benue State, where several persons were reportedly killed. The directive, issued on Sunday, 12 July 2026, came amid growing security concerns in the area and was contained in a statement signed by the Secretary of the Otukpo District Traditional Council, Chief Udeh Adole.
The monarch said the continued presence of herders had become a serious threat to the safety, security and well-being of the people of Otukpo Kingdom. He stressed that the directive should not be interpreted as prejudice or profiling against any group but described it as a necessary measure to safeguard lives and restore peace in the kingdom. According to the statement, the monarch expressed deep concern over the recurring attacks allegedly linked to armed herders and lamented what he described as the continued neglect of his people, who he said had been left at the mercy of the attackers.
Chief Eimonye vowed that Otukpo District would not be taken over by any interest under his watch, insisting that the people of the Otukpo Abakwu Kingdom were determined to defend their ancestral land. The traditional ruler called on relevant security agencies and authorities to take urgent steps to address the security situation and protect residents from further attacks.
The attack on Nobi Village on Sunday came barely two weeks after gunmen killed at least two people and abducted several others in an attack on the community. In a separate incident in June 2026, suspected armed herders also reportedly killed one person in the Ojantelle area of Otukpo Local Government Area. The recurring attacks have heightened tensions in the area and have drawn attention to the long-standing farmer-herder conflicts that have plagued Benue State for years.
The eviction order is the latest in a series of similar actions taken by traditional rulers in Benue State to address the growing insecurity in their domains. In April 2026, the Tor Tiv, His Royal Majesty Professor James Ayatse, issued a similar order directing all herders to vacate the Tiv nation and President Bola Tinubu's ancestral home within three months. The monarch had also called on armed herders to vacate the state or face the consequences, describing the violence as unacceptable and a threat to the survival of the Tiv people.
The Benue State Government had also earlier in 2026 warned criminal herders to vacate the state or face the full wrath of the law, while Governor Hyacinth Alia had earlier declared a state of emergency on food security and insecurity. The governor has also vowed to ensure that all Benue communities are protected and that those responsible for the killings are brought to justice.
As of the time of filing this report, no official statement had been issued by the Benue State Police Command or the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in response to the monarch's directive. The security situation in Otukpo Kingdom remains tense, and residents are hopeful that the government will take decisive action to address the root causes of the conflict and ensure lasting peace.
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