Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Benue State Police Command has confirmed that armed men attacked the Ondo community in Ugboju District of Otukpo Local Government Area on Tuesday morning, July 14, 2026, killing the community's youth chairman, Mr. Sunday Ogoh, and leaving the traditional head and several other residents injured. The attack, which occurred at approximately 6:10 a.m., has sent shockwaves through the community and heightened fears over the worsening security situation in Benue South, coming barely 48 hours after suspected armed herders killed 18 people in neighbouring Akpachi and Otukpo-Nobi communities.
The Police Public Relations Officer for the Benue State Command, DSP Udeme Edet, confirmed the incident in a statement, disclosing that the command received a distress call at about 6:10 a.m. informing security agencies of the attack by unknown gunmen. "At about 0610hrs, we received information that unknown gunmen attacked Ondo, Ugboju in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State," Edet said. According to the police spokesperson, "One Sunday Ogoh, the youth chairman, sadly lost his life, while the head of Ondo and others who were wounded were rushed to the hospital".
Following the attack, police tactical teams and senior officers were immediately deployed to the affected community to restore calm and commence a manhunt for the attackers. Edet added that members of the vigilance group, the Civil Protection Guard, and other sister security agencies were also mobilised to the area to support the ongoing security operation. She assured residents that security agencies were making concerted efforts to apprehend those responsible for the attack, stating, "Tactical teams, senior officers, vigilance group, civil protection guard and other sister security agencies are on scene, and efforts are seriously on the way to arrest the culprits". The police urged members of the public to remain calm and cooperate with security personnel by providing useful information that could aid the investigation.
Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, who also confirmed the attack in a telephone interview with journalists, said one indigene was killed. Ogiri disclosed that security agencies repelled the attackers and are combing the surrounding forests in search of the fleeing bandits. The council chairman dismissed reports of a widespread crisis, insisting that security operatives had restored normalcy to the community. "There is a crisis in Ondo, but it is not widespread. The attack was repelled after the unfortunate loss of one indigene. Combined security operatives are combing the forest in search of the bandits. The situation is now calm because security agencies responded promptly, and normalcy has largely been restored," Ogiri said.
The latest attack by suspected armed herdsmen, coming just days after the invasion of the neighbouring Otukpo-Nobi community, has deepened fears over the worsening security situation in Benue South. A fortnight ago, Fulani herdsmen had attacked Otukpo-Nobi, killing scores of residents. According to reports, after killing two people in Akpachi on Friday, the attackers moved to Otukpo-Nobi the following morning, killing 16 persons, including women and children. The series of attacks have left communities in the area reeling from grief and demanding urgent action from the government.
In the aftermath of Tuesday's attack, angry youth staged a protest by blocking the busy Otukpo–Agatu Road. The demonstrators barricaded the highway with burning tyres and other objects, bringing traffic to a complete standstill and leaving commuters stranded for several hours. The protesters called on the federal and Benue state governments to take urgent steps to end the recurring attacks on communities in the area, insisting that residents could no longer continue to live under constant fear of violent assaults.
The killing of Sunday Ogoh, the community's youth chairman, represents a significant loss for the Ondo community. As a youth leader, Ogoh was expected to play a key role in mobilising young people and advocating for the community's interests. His death, coming just 48 hours after the massacre of 18 people in neighbouring communities, has underscored the escalating violence that has gripped the Otukpo area. Residents are now living in fear, uncertain when the next attack might occur.
Governor Hyacinth Alia has previously condemned attacks in the state, describing them as barbaric and an assault on the lives and peace of Benue residents. However, the continued assaults on communities suggest that the government's efforts to address the security crisis have yet to yield tangible results. The Otukpo Local Government Chairman has insisted that normalcy has been restored, but the protests by angry youth and the palpable fear among residents tell a different story.
The police have assured the public that tactical teams, senior officers, vigilance groups, the Civil Protection Guard, and other security agencies are working to apprehend the culprits. However, the recurring nature of these attacks raises serious questions about the effectiveness of the security response in the area. The Benue State Police Command has urged members of the public to remain calm and cooperate with security personnel by providing useful information that could aid the investigation.
As the security operation continues, the people of Ondo community and the wider Otukpo area are left to mourn their dead and hope that the authorities will take decisive action to end the cycle of violence. The attack has once again highlighted the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to addressing the security challenges in Benue State, including the deployment of additional security personnel, improved intelligence gathering, and the prosecution of those responsible for the attacks. For now, the community waits for justice and the restoration of peace.
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