Otukpo, Benue State – April 5, 2025 — A security guard was reportedly killed late Friday night in a brutal attack by suspected herdsmen at the Otobi Dam, located in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.
The chilling incident adds to a troubling wave of violence that has gripped the Otukpo axis in recent weeks, leaving residents on edge and calling for urgent government intervention.
Confirming the latest attack, Hon. Angbo Kennedy, the member representing Otukpo/Akpa State Constituency in the Benue State House of Assembly, decried the persistent bloodshed in the region and urged community members to remain vigilant.
“This is becoming too much,” Hon. Kennedy said. “A guard was killed this evening at the Otobi Dam by herdsmen. Please let’s watch out for each other. We must resort to self-help.”
As of the time of filing this report, the identity of the slain guard had not been officially disclosed, and no arrests have been made. Authorities have yet to issue a formal statement on the incident.
Residents are now calling on the Benue State Government and security agencies to ramp up surveillance efforts and deploy more personnel to rural flashpoints, especially areas surrounding critical infrastructure like the Otobi Dam.
Friday night's killing comes on the heels of a series of deadly attacks in neighboring communities such as Okpomaju, Okete, and Asa all within Otukpo LGA where multiple residents have lost their lives and scores have been displaced.
In a related development just a day earlier, gunmen hijacked a fully-loaded Benue Links transport bus, killing two passengers and abducting 13 others, deepening fears of growing insecurity across the region.
The latest violence underscores the escalating security crisis in Benue and raises urgent questions about the protection of lives and property in rural communities across Nigeria.