Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
No fewer than 13 persons have been confirmed dead and several others remain missing after suspected armed herdsmen launched a deadly attack on Efeyi community in Ugboju District, Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State. The assailants invaded the village in the early hours of Tuesday, July 28, 2026, opening fire on residents and sparking panic that forced many to flee into surrounding bushes for safety. According to multiple sources, the attack lasted from about 5:00 am until 9:00 am, with no immediate intervention from security personnel stationed in the area. As of Tuesday evening, rescue teams had recovered 13 bodies, while search efforts continued for several residents whose whereabouts remain unknown.
The Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with journalists, describing it as another unprovoked assault by herdsmen militia. Ogiri stated that the attack was entirely without provocation, insisting that the assailants came only to shed blood and kill innocent people. He disclosed that he was at the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Otukpo, awaiting the arrival of injured victims who had initially been taken to a local hospital for first aid. While he could not confirm the exact number of casualties, he noted that he had been told 14 bodies had been recovered while many others sustained injuries.
The attack has thrown the community into mourning and triggered outrage among residents, with angry youths reportedly conveying the corpses of the victims to the palace of the district head in protest over the recurring killings in the area. The protesters demanded immediate action from the government and security agencies, lamenting what they described as the continued failure to protect lives and property despite repeated attacks on communities in Benue South. A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation told The Sun that the delayed response of security agencies had left the community feeling helpless and vulnerable. He said: “The current situation in Efeyi Ugboju is pathetic. The attack started around 5am and till after 9am there was no response from the security agencies. Even the Army and Police stationed at Ugboju Ogobia had not reached the community to protect innocent citizens. We are helpless and vulnerable. What can we do to protect our people? Oh God, help the souls of the innocent people killed mercilessly in Efeyi Ugboju”.
When contacted, the Benue State Police Command spokesperson, Superintendent Edet Udeme, said she was yet to receive comprehensive details of the incident but promised to provide an update after obtaining information from officers on the ground. As of the time of this report, security authorities had not issued an official statement on the attack. The council chairman expressed concern over the continued attacks despite the presence of multiple security formations in Otukpo, including the military, Mobile Police, Agro-Rangers and conventional police units. He said: “There are many security agencies here, but I don't know whether they are enough. I am not the one to determine their operations. My responsibility is to provide logistics and accommodation, not to direct security deployments”.
Ogiri called on the Benue State Government to take deliberate steps to fully enforce the state's Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, arguing that weak enforcement has contributed to the recurring attacks. He said: “Everything is tied to the anti-open grazing law. Even the eviction notice issued cannot achieve much because there is nobody to enforce it. Until there is deliberate enforcement, we will continue to lament these killings”. The latest attack adds to the growing wave of insecurity in parts of Benue State, where recurring clashes and attacks linked to suspected armed herders have claimed numerous lives and displaced thousands of residents in recent years. Otukpo LGA has witnessed several deadly assaults in the past month alone, including attacks on Akpachi village and Otukpo-Nobi communities earlier in July 2026 that left at least 18 people dead.
The incident at Efeyi community has heightened fears among residents of neighbouring villages, with many fleeing for safety amid fears of further violence. Residents have expressed frustration over what they see as the inability of security agencies to protect them despite repeated promises from authorities. The growing insecurity in Benue State has become a major concern for both local communities and the state government, with calls for stronger enforcement of existing laws and more proactive security measures growing louder with each new attack. As rescue and search operations continue, the community of Efeyi mourns its dead while anxiously awaiting news of those still missing. The full extent of the casualties remains unclear as authorities continue to assess the aftermath of the attack. For the people of Efeyi and neighbouring communities, the question remains: when will the bloodshed end?
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