Gunmen kill teenager, rustle cattle in fresh Benue attack

..Residents flee for safety

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

Suspected armed men have attacked Olahimu village in Ogoli Ugboju, Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, killing a 15-year-old boy and rustling several cattle in a fresh attack on the community.

The attack, which reportedly occurred at about 7 a.m. on Tuesday, also left one person missing, while three others who were initially unaccounted for were later found after escaping from the assailants.

The victims were said to be members of the family of the late Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Ardo Risku Muhammad, who was killed a few weeks ago in Okudu community, Otukpo LGA, while returning from a peace meeting in neighbouring Ohimini Local Government Area.

In a statement signed by Muhammed Idris on behalf of the family, the deceased was identified as Muhammad Isiyaku, while the missing person was identified as Saidu Musa, a family labourer.

The statement added that although about 500 cattle were initially rustled, many had been recovered during search operations around the Okudu axis, while some animals were found dead and others remained missing.

According to the family, three persons initially declared missing — Muhammed Ismaiel, 17; Muhammed Hamza, 13; and a labourer, Abu Ali — were later found alive after escaping from the attackers.

The family condemned the attack and appealed to the Benue State Government, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the missing labourer and recover the remaining stolen cattle.

“We strongly condemn this act of violence, killing and cattle rustling. We appeal to the Benue State Government, the Nigeria Police Force, DSS and all security agencies to urgently intensify efforts to locate Saidu Musa and recover the remaining missing cattle.

“We also call for increased security presence in Olahimu, Ogoli Ugboju and other border communities to prevent further attacks and a breakdown of law and order,” the statement read.

Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, said he received a distress call while the attack was ongoing and immediately alerted security agencies and community leaders.

According to him, “Idris called me that an attack on their herd was ongoing and that he was more concerned about the survival of his younger ones who were taking care of the cattle.

“I immediately contacted the District Head, the Divisional Police Officer and the youth leader, who mobilised to the area. Later, Idris informed me that they found one of his brothers dead, while the others who were initially missing were eventually located, except one labourer. The cows were nowhere to be found.”

Ogiri lamented the rising cases of cattle rustling and armed attacks in the area, recalling that only a few days earlier, suspected bandits rustled more than 50 cattle from a private ranch in Jericho village and had also been attacking communities to loot food items and other valuables.

He said the latest attacks had forced many residents to flee their homes and abandon their farms at the peak of the farming season.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, said she had yet to receive detailed information on the incident.