Following a violent assault on the Efeyi Ugboju community in Benue State that claimed more than 22 lives, the Otukpo Local Government Council has implemented a curfew from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Council Chairman Maxwell Ogiri stated that the measure aims to maintain public order after residents began protesting the incident. The decision followed reports that demonstrators intended to march to the palace of the Och’Idoma with the victims’ bodies, raising concerns about potential vandalism and unrest.
The Benue State Police Command reported that the Tuesday morning attack began as a cattle-rustling operation against resident Peter Ambulus. DSP Peter Aondongu explained that the gunmen opened fire on local farmers as they fled the area. In response, Commissioner of Police Cletus Nwadiogbu led tactical units in a clearance operation. During the ensuing confrontation, authorities killed two suspects and seized an AK-47 rifle along with ammunition. Security remains heightened as the search for additional suspects and victims continues.
Local accounts describe the event as a tragic massacre, with over 35 people injured. One survivor, identified as Egbe, noted that the casualties included women and children, straining local medical facilities. A victim with a severe head wound has been transferred to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi for specialized care.
