Suspected armed herders have reportedly launched another attack on the Ondo community in the Ogboju District of Otukpo Local Government Area, Benue State, leaving one person dead.
The latest incident occurred on Tuesday morning, just two days after a deadly assault on Otukpo Nobi in the same local government area.
The Punch reported that the gunmen invaded the Ondo community at about 6 a.m., firing indiscriminately and forcing residents to flee to the neighbouring Oyangede community for safety.
A resident of the community, who identified himself simply as Sunny, recounted the attack during a telephone interview with the Punch.
“The herdsmen stormed our community around 6 a.m. today and shot sporadically, which made people flee to the neighbouring Oyangede community.
“But youths in the area mobilised themselves and went after the invaders. This prevented the assailants from wreaking havoc; nevertheless, one person was killed.”
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, said the attack was contained after the death of one resident.
“There is a crisis in Ondo, but it is not too much. It was repelled after the loss of an indigenous person.
“The combined security agencies are combing the forest in search of the bandits. The situation is calm. When they saw that security agencies were responding with immediate effect, there is a lot of calm.”
Efforts to get a reaction from the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, DSP Udeme Edet, were unsuccessful, as she could not be reached.
The attack on Ondo community follows Sunday’s violence in Otukpo Nobi, also in Otukpo Local Government Area, where residents alleged that 16 people lost their lives.
However, Edet had earlier stated that the police confirmed eight deaths, while five other victims sustained varying degrees of injuries.
