The Benue State Police have confirmed that eight people five adults and three children—were killed in a suspected terrorist attack on a rural community in Otukpo Local Government Area.
Mr. Cletus Nwadiogbu, Benue State Commissioner of Police, confirmed the incident on Sunday, describing it as a terrorist attack. He said he spent most of the day in the affected area with other security personnel, assessing the situation and working to restore order after violence erupted in response to the killings.
“We have been in the interior since morning. The network was poor because we were in the bush. Some people were killed, and the youths became violent. We have been engaging them, and they have now agreed to reopen the road. They are only waiting for water tankers to extinguish the fire,” Nwadiogbu stated.
The police commissioner added that investigations are ongoing to determine whether the latest attack is linked to previous incidents in the area. “We cannot say for now whether it is connected to previous attacks or whether the terrorists simply wanted to achieve their aim.”
He explained that the attackers used guerrilla tactics, striking the community and then fleeing into nearby forests, which has made apprehending them difficult.
Nwadiogbu assured residents that security agencies are intensifying efforts to track down the perpetrators and prevent further attacks.
(NAN)
