Following a violent assault on the Efeyi community in the Ugboju area of Benue State that resulted in over 22 deaths, the Otukpo Local Government Council has implemented a dusk-to-dawn curfew. The restriction, effective from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. daily, was enacted by Council Chairman Maxwell Ogiri to maintain order after local protests surfaced. Officials feared that agitated youths might transport victims’ remains to the Och’Idoma palace, prompting the deployment of security teams to protect strategic landmarks.
Authorities described the incident as an invasion by suspected armed herders targeting local farmers. Conversely, the Benue State Police Command reported that the primary motive was cattle rustling from a resident named Peter Ambulus. Police spokesperson DSP Udeme Edet stated that CP Emenari Ifeanyi spearheaded a tactical response, resulting in a gun battle where two suspects were killed and an AK-47 along with ammunition was seized. While police continue to search for remaining suspects, local survivors claim the death toll exceeds 22, with over 35 individuals currently hospitalized for severe injuries. Residents have expressed profound grief, describing the event as a massacre that left numerous people missing and local medical facilities struggling to cope with the surge of wounded patients.
