Benue Police Condemn Deadly Otukpo Attack, Deploy Tactical Teams
By Pan Afric Reporters
The Benue State Police Command has condemned the deadly attack on Otukpo-Nobi community in Otukpo Local Government Area, where eight persons were kiiled and five others injured, assuring residents that tactical teams have been deployed to restore normalcy and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The assurance was contained in a press release issued by the Benue State Police Command and signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, for the Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, on July 12, 2026.
According to the statement, the attack occurred in the early hours of Sunday, shortly after the successful conclusion of the wake and burial rites of late Mr. Adaje Okoh, an octogenarian.
The Command disclosed that at about 6:00 a.m., it received a distress call reporting that heavily armed assailants stormed the community and opened fire indiscriminately on residents.
The attack claimed the lives of eight persons, while five others sustained varying degrees of injuries. The attackers also reportedly set ablaze some thatched houses and a motorcycle before fleeing the scene.
Reacting swiftly to the incident, the Commissioner of Police, CP Cletus C.N. Nwadiogbu, personally led police tactical teams and other operatives to the affected community to restore law and order, prevent further attacks, and commence investigations.
The injured victims were evacuated to a medical facility in Otukpo for treatment, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Otukpo, for preservation.
Condemning the attack, the Police Commissioner described the incident as heinous and unacceptable, assuring residents that the Command would leave no stone unturned in identifying and prosecuting those responsible.
“The Command is fully committed to identifying, arresting, and prosecuting those responsible for this heinous attack,” CP Nwadiogbu stated.
To prevent further violence, the Commissioner ordered the immediate deployment of additional tactical and operational assets to Otukpo-Nobi and other vulnerable communities across the area.
The Police also disclosed that security had been reinforced following protests staged by some aggrieved youths after the attack.
While appealing for calm, the Command urged residents not to resort to self-help or take the law into their own hands, stressing that security agencies were working diligently to apprehend the attackers.
The Police further called on members of the public to provide credible and timely information that could assist ongoing investigations, assuring citizens that adequate security measures had been put in place to protect lives and property.
“Citizens are advised to remain calm, cooperate with security agencies, and continue with their lawful activities as adequate security arrangements have been made to safeguard lives and property,” the statement added.
The Benue State Police Command also extended its condolences to the bereaved families and the people of Benue State, praying for the speedy recovery of those injured in the attack.
The latest incident adds to growing security concerns in parts of Benue State, with residents calling for intensified security operations to curb recurring attacks on rural communities.
