Benue: 15 victims of Otukpo attack buried in mass grave

Fifteen individuals, including women and children, fell victim to an attack on July 28, 2026, in Efeyi-Utikpi community, Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State. The assailants, believed to be armed herders, invaded the farming area in Ugboju District, resulting in their death. The victims' remains were laid to rest on a Saturday, accompanied by sorrowful cries from residents, relatives, and community members who gathered to mourn.

The attack left numerous residents traumatized and homes reduced to rubble, intensifying fears about the safety of rural communities in Benue.

This was the latest in a series of attacks on Otukpo. Just three weeks earlier, on July 12, 2026, eight people were killed in an attack on Otukpo-Nobi, leaving five adults and three children dead, according to the police. These repeated incidents have raised serious concerns over the security of farming communities in Benue, prompting residents to demand swift government action to safeguard lives and property.

Equipping the Persecuted, a United States-based non-governmental organization, announced financial aid for the families of the victims and local vigilante groups. The most recent burial has further underscored the devastating consequences of insecurity on communities in Benue, where residents are continually facing the threat of attacks while attempting to carry on with their daily routines.

Community leaders have persistently appealed to both the Federal and Benue State governments to bolster security measures and prevent additional killings.

For the bereaved families, Saturday’s mass burial represented a poignant farewell to 15 loved ones whose lives were abruptly ended in the deadly attack.