BENUE: 15 VICTIMS OF OTUKPO ATTACK LAID TO REST IN MASS GRAVE

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By:Tajudeen Aminat

Fifteen victims of the July 28, 2026 attack on Efeyi-Utikpi community in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State have been buried in a mass grave.

The victims, including women and children, were reportedly killed when suspected armed herders attacked the farming community in Ugboju District.

Their remains were laid to rest on Saturday amid tears and grief, as relatives, residents and other community members gathered to bid them farewell.

The attack reportedly left several residents traumatised and destroyed homes, further raising concerns about the safety of rural communities across the state.

The mass burial came less than three weeks after eight people killed in another attack in Otukpo-Nobi were also buried.

The July 12, 2026 attack claimed the lives of five adults and three children, according to the police.

The recurrence of attacks has heightened concerns over the security of farming communities in Benue, with residents calling on the government to take urgent steps to protect lives and property.

Meanwhile, a representative of Equipping the Persecuted, a United States-based non-governmental organisation, reportedly announced financial support for the victims’ families and local vigilante groups.

The latest burial has once again underscored the devastating impact of insecurity on communities in Benue, where residents continue to live under the threat of attacks while carrying out their daily activities.

Community leaders have continued to appeal to both the Federal and Benue State governments to intensify security operations and take measures to prevent further loss of lives.

For the bereaved families, Saturday’s mass burial was a painful farewell to 15 loved ones whose lives were cut short in the deadly attack.