By Mike Odeh James
(Makurdi) Fulani Ethnic militia (FEM) killed five people and wounded many in attacks on Otukpo County communities in Benue State, witnesses told Truthnigeria.
The affected communities are Okpomaju, Asa 2 and Odudaje, all located in Otukpo County, where the attacks occurred between Tuesday and Thursday, February 3 to February 6, 2025.
Otukpo County
Otukpo County (Local Government Area) is the headquarters of the Idoma ethnic nationality and is located approximately 172 miles south of Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital, and 63 miles south of Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
Demographically, Otukpo is predominantly Christian, with about 90 percent of the population identifying as Catholic, Methodist, or Baptist. The inhabitants of Otukpo are chiefly farmers and hunters, cultivating crops such as yams, cassava, rice, and cowpeas.
Samson Agaba, 47, a hunter of the Idoma tribe from Otukpo-Icho village in Otukpo county of Benue State, told TruthNigeria that last Tuesday, he went hunting with his friend, Uloko Omadachi, a farmer. According to him, their plan was to hunt and then gather some yams tubers from the farm before returning home.
“As we ventured into the Okpomaju Forest, we encountered about 12 Fulani herding scores of their cattle to freely graze on our farmlands, destroying cassava crops in the process,” Agaba said.
“When Omadachi and I challenged the herders to stop their cattle from the destruction, they initially appeared peaceful and wanted to cooperate,” he went on.
“Unknown to us, that was a gimmick to take us by surprise. Some of them went to their cattle bearing loads on bags slung over them and pulled out firearms and began shooting sporadically into the air,” he said.
According to Agaba, Omadachi was immediately killed in the hail of bullets as Agaba managed to dive into a nearby thicket and then made his way to the Okpomaju settlement for safety.
Legislative Aide To Benue MP Speaks To Truthnigeria
In an exclusive interview with TruthNigeria, David Okoh Onyillokwu, senior legislative aide to Honorable Blessing Onuh, revealed shocking details about the recent attack in Benue State. Onuh represents the Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency in Nigeria’s National Assembly.
Onyillokwu shared his account of the events, providing insight into the circumstances surrounding the attack.
“On Tuesday morning, some of the hunters from Otukpo icho, and Okpomaju settlements all in Otukpo county went to the forest in Okpomaju and there, they saw Fulani herders grazing on the farmlands.
“The Fulani herders were unfamiliar to the locals and their presence in the area was unclear. When questioned by residents of Okpomaju and Otukpo-icho about their presence in Okpomaju Forest, the herders claimed they had been forced out of a Tiv-dominated area in Benue North. This is notable, given the history of conflicts between the Tiv people and Fulani militants in the region.”
“However, the residents of Okpomaju and Otukpo-icho insisted that they do not have lands for grazing and therefore the Fulani herders should leave, Onyillokwu said.
According to Onyillokwu, the Fulanis who were initially pretending to be peaceful herders, brought out machine guns and began to fire on the residents of in Okpomaju.
“One person was killed that Tuesday morning and so the Tribal Chief of Otukpo which harbours Okpomaju and Otukpo-icho communities summoned the leadership of the Fulani communities to resolve the issue.
“According to Onyillokwu, it was agreed with the Fulani herders that they will leave Okpomaju and Otukpo-icho communities and move back to where they initially came from.
“They were given till Thursday 6 February, 2025 to leave.
“However, on Wednesday night, the terrorists invaded Okpomaju and killed four more people, burnt down scores of houses and the cut as many as five persons with cutlasses.
“One those injured of cutlass attacked, died of his injuries in the hospital this morning,” he said.
Community Leader speaks
Ajenu Olonta, a community leader in Otukpo-icho who spoke to Truthnigeria, revealed further the extent of damage done to communities.
According to him, after the meeting with the Tribal leader of Otukpo, Chief Simon Eimonye, the Fulani leaders agreed that they will withdraw their cows from Okpomaju and go back to Tiv land where they came from, however, on Wednesday, night about 12 am, the Fulani terrorists came back with over 40 armed men on motorcycles shooting randomly and burning settlements.
“They torched several houses in Okpomaju. “They went to Asa 2 village and shot five persons; two others were hacked, and then the unarmed residents fled into the bush,” Olonta said.
“They were not done in sacking Asa 2, the terrorists headed to Odudaje, burnt some houses, shot and wounded 7 others. At that point, the Idoma hunters came in and resisted them till the Nigerian Army came, and the Fulani terrorists resisted.
“Though six people have been killed, the death toll will mount as we search for dead and wounded in the bush,” he said.
Army Intervention Saved Okpomaju and other Settlements
Speaking further. Onyillokwu told Truthnigeria Nigeria that the terrorists would have attacked further but for the intervention of the Nigerian Army.
“The terrorists were advancing and burning houses in Asa 2 and Otada before the Army intervened. It was the Army that led some of our men to Okpomaju and its forest to recover dead bodies and trapped residents,” he said.
Otukpo People to Fight Back
John Eimonye, the Tribal leader of Otukpo county has expressed strong condemnation over the recent assault on his community’s village by suspected Fulani terrorists
In a statement issued by Chief Udeh Adole, Secretary of the Otukpo District Traditional Council, Eimonye lamented that despite the peaceful initiatives of the Otukpo kingdom, the Fulani terrorists have resorted to violence over land that is not rightfully theirs.
Chief Eimonye pledged to protect the land and people of the historic Otukpo-Abaku kingdom, declaring, “We will not be intimidated by these marauders.” He extended his condolences to the families of the victims, stating, “This loss is deeply felt by me and the entire Otukpo community.”
The traditional ruler urged security agencies and the government to act swiftly, emphasizing, “This incident must not be treated as business as usual.”
Ajenu Olonta of Otukpo- Icho community tells Truthnigeria that Idoma land which includes Otukpo- Icho, Okpomaju, Asa, Odudaje Idabi and other do not have lands for grazing.
“We are farmers and hunters not grazing, we shall not allow our lands to be confiscated for grazing.
“We are calling on the Federal and State Governments to send more soldiers to Otukpo and help keep peace, Ajenu noted
For Idenu Odeh, a farmer in Asa 2 community, the Fulanis should go back to the North as their coming brings nothing but sorrow.
“We are not herders, and we are not going to allow our farm lands and houses to be confiscated by anyone,” he said.
Mike Odeh James is a conflict reporter, and he writes for Truthnigeria.
