Governor Alia vows to drive out terrorists as fresh attacks in Ohimini and Otukpo force residents to flee across Benue South.
MAKURDI, BENUE STATE — Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has reaffirmed his administration's determination to restore security across the state, declaring that armed groups responsible for repeated attacks on rural communities "must leave Benue."
The governor's renewed assurance comes as fresh violence continues to spread across Benue South, where attacks in Otukpo and Ohimini local government areas have left communities displaced, residents injured and growing concerns over the safety of farming settlements.
Within the past week alone, multiple communities have come under attack, forcing hundreds of residents to flee while security agencies intensify operations to prevent further violence.
Governor Alia made the declaration during his visit to Otukpo following the deadly attacks on Akpachi and Otukpo-Nobi communities, where he met traditional rulers, victims and residents affected by the violence.
He assured residents that his administration would continue providing logistical support to security agencies until armed groups are completely driven out of the state.
According to the governor, protecting lives and securing farmlands remain central to his administration's agenda.
"It is my responsibility to protect every Benue citizen and defend our ancestral lands. We will continue supporting security agencies until lasting peace returns to our communities," he said.
The governor also visited victims receiving treatment at the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Otukpo, directing that the Benue State Government should take full responsibility for their medical care.
At the palace of the Och'Idoma, His Royal Majesty Agaba'Idu Elaigwu Odogbo Obagaji John, Governor Alia expressed condolences to families affected by the attacks and appealed for continued cooperation with security agencies.
Even as residents mourn victims of the Otukpo attacks, another community came under assault on Thursday.
Suspected armed herders reportedly invaded Ankpechi community in Oglewu Ward, Ohimini Local Government Area, shooting sporadically before looting provision shops and forcing residents to flee.
Local sources said one resident sustained gunshot injuries during the attack and was rushed to hospital for treatment.
Chairman of Ohimini Local Government Area, Gabriel Adole, confirmed the incident, saying the attackers invaded the community between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m.
According to him, the armed men shot at residents before carting away food items and other goods from local shops.
He disclosed that additional security personnel had been deployed to the area to forestall further attacks.
The latest incident occurred barely three days after the attacks on Otukpo-Nobi and Ondo community in neighbouring Otukpo LGA.
Residents say insecurity is forcing many families to abandon their homes and farms.
Several villages across Otukpo and Ohimini remain deserted as people seek refuge in neighbouring communities or with relatives.
Community leaders warn that continued displacement during the farming season could significantly affect agricultural production.
Benue is widely recognised as Nigeria's food basket, producing large quantities of yam, cassava, soybean, maize and rice.
Repeated attacks have left many farmers unable to cultivate their land despite the onset of the rainy season.
Governor Alia has repeatedly argued that restoring security is essential to reviving Benue's economy.
His administration recently signed a ₦25 billion agribusiness investment agreement aimed at expanding commercial agriculture, irrigation farming, soybean production and value-chain development.
Government officials say the planned revitalisation of the Taraku Mills also depends on sustained peace across farming communities.
According to the administration, investors can only commit resources where lives, infrastructure and agricultural assets are adequately protected.
Former Commissioner of Police in Benue State, Fatai Owoseni, has warned that troop deployments alone may not permanently resolve the crisis.
Speaking on the recurring violence, the retired police commissioner identified the proliferation of locally fabricated firearms and illegal weapons as one of the major factors sustaining attacks across rural communities.
He argued that dismantling criminal networks requires intelligence-led policing, improved border surveillance, community cooperation and stricter controls on the circulation of illicit weapons.
Security analysts have similarly stressed that while military operations remain important, long-term peace will depend on effective intelligence gathering, criminal prosecutions and conflict prevention strategies.
The latest incidents follow a series of deadly attacks that have shaken Benue South.
Among them are:
- The killing of at least 18 residents in Akpachi and Otukpo-Nobi communities.
- A fresh invasion of Ondo community in Otukpo LGA.
- Continued attacks on rural settlements in parts of Apa, Gwer West, Logo, Ukum and Katsina-Ala local government areas earlier this year.
The violence has displaced thousands of residents, destroyed livelihoods and placed additional pressure on humanitarian agencies supporting internally displaced persons across the state.
Some local leaders have suggested the recent attacks may be linked to reprisals following the killing of Alhaji Ardo Risku Mohammed, the Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), who was murdered on June 26 while returning from a peace meeting.
However, the Benue chapter of MACBAN has publicly rejected those claims.
The association condemned the killings in Otukpo-Nobi and urged the public not to attribute responsibility before security agencies conclude their investigations.
Police have already arrested multiple suspects in connection with the killing of the MACBAN chairman, while investigations into both incidents remain ongoing.
Across affected communities, residents say they need more than temporary military deployments.
Traditional rulers, farmers and community leaders have continued to call for:
- Permanent security presence in vulnerable communities.
- Improved intelligence gathering.
- Swift response to distress calls.
- Arrest and prosecution of perpetrators.
- Safe return of displaced persons.
Many also want government to strengthen rural policing and improve surveillance around farming settlements.
The latest attacks in Ohimini demonstrate that the security challenge confronting Benue is evolving beyond isolated incidents into a broader regional concern affecting multiple communities within a short period.
Governor Alia's commitment to flushing out terrorists reflects growing public demand for decisive action, but the sustainability of that promise will depend on translating security deployments into lasting peace on the ground.
For Benue, the stakes extend beyond security alone. Continued violence threatens agricultural production, discourages investment, increases displacement and weakens confidence among communities already struggling to recover from repeated attacks.
As security agencies intensify operations across Benue South, residents will ultimately judge success not by official assurances but by whether they can safely return to their homes, cultivate their farms and rebuild their lives without fear of another attack.
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