The Otukpo Local Government Council has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew following Tuesday’s deadly attack on the Efeyi community in Ugboju, Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, which left more than 22 people dead.
The curfew, which runs daily from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., was announced by the Chairman of Otukpo LGA, Maxwell Ogiri, after protests erupted in parts of the council area over the killings.
Ogiri said the restriction became necessary to prevent a breakdown of law and order after intelligence reports indicated that some aggrieved youths planned to move the bodies of victims to the palace of the Och’Idoma in protest.
According to him, security personnel have been deployed to strategic locations, including the royal palace, to forestall any attempt to vandalise public property or disrupt peace.
“We are trying to ensure that no one takes advantage of the unfortunate incident to create further unrest. After consultations with community leaders, we agreed to impose a curfew from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. to restore calm and protect lives and property,” Ogiri said.
The attack occurred in the early hours of Tuesday when suspected armed herders reportedly invaded the farming community, opening fire on residents and leaving scores dead and many others injured.
However, the Benue State Police Command said preliminary investigations showed that the attackers stormed the area to rustle cattle belonging to a resident, Peter Ambulus, before shooting at farmers and other residents while fleeing with the stolen livestock.
Police spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, said officers were immediately deployed to the community following a distress call.
She disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, CP Emenari Ifeanyi, personally led tactical teams on a clearance operation, during which the fleeing suspects allegedly ambushed security operatives.
According to the police, two of the suspected attackers were killed during a gun battle, while an AK-47 rifle and 15 rounds of live ammunition were recovered. She added that efforts were ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects, recover the stolen cattle and bring all those involved in the attack to justice.
The Commissioner of Police condemned the attack and sympathised with families who lost loved ones, assuring residents that additional security personnel had been deployed to the area to prevent further violence.
Meanwhile, residents said the death toll has continued to rise, with more than 22 bodies recovered and over 35 persons receiving treatment for injuries sustained during the attack.
One of the critically injured victims, who suffered a gunshot wound to the head, was referred to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, for specialised treatment.
A survivor, who identified himself simply as Egbe, described the attack as one of the worst tragedies to hit the community.
“Our people were slaughtered without provocation. They killed the young, the elderly, women and children. Bodies were lying everywhere.
So far, we have recovered about 22 corpses, but the search is still ongoing because many people are still missing. Our local hospitals have been overwhelmed by the number of injured victims,” he said.
Benue: Dusk-to-dawn curfew declared in Otukpo as residents protest deadly Ugboju attack