Northcentral Agricultural States Facing Paralysis by Wide-ranging Fulani Ethnic Militia Attacks
By Mike James Odeh and Ekani Olikita
(Makurdi) It was a bloodbath in Otobi Akpa Community of Otukpo County, Benue State, on Tuesday, April 15, as Fulani militia killed 10 Christian residents in fresh attacks. The state is renowned for phenomenally productive soils prized both by farmers and invading herders seeking to expand their grazing lands.
Emichi, Odudaje and Okpomaju communities in Otukpo County are currently under Fulani Militia attack on April 16.
Otukpo/Akpa State Lawmaker Speaks to TruthNigeria
The Lawmaker representing Otukpo/Akpa State Constituency in the Benue State House of Assembly and an indigene of Akpa Community, Angbo Kennedy in a phone interview with TruthNigeria Correspondent, also confirmed the attack, adding that security personnel have been deployed to curtail the attack
“Yes, Otobi Akpa was attacked by well-armed Fulani herdsmen in the late hours of on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. Many people have lost their lives and some sustained varying degrees of injuries. Nine corpses were discovered last night, one was found this morning, taking the death toll to 10”, Kennedy said.
Fulani Terrorist Threatened to Attack Otobi on Facebook
Prior to the deadly attack on Otobi, a disturbing warning was issued by a cattle driver named Bashir Adamu. According to Lawmaker Kennedy, Adamu made a direct threat on Facebook, stating that Otobi would be attacked.
“The threat was promptly reported to the security agencies, but residents say nothing was done in response. Tragically, the warning turned out to be real,” said Kennedy.
The lawmaker revealed this to Channels TV on 15 April 2025.
“This is not just about grazing anymore,” Kennedy said. “These people bring their cattle onto our farmland. When the locals protest or try to resist, they are met with violence—sometimes even death.”
Locals believe the attacks are no longer random but part of a broader strategy of land grabbing. Farmlands are destroyed, crops trampled, and entire communities displaced. “They want our lands and our crops. This is about domination,” he said.
Otobi Akpa is an agrarian and a predominantly Christian community of the Idoma-speaking tribe who predominate in Benue’s Central region. The residents are 99 percent Christians, including Catholics (80 percent), Methodists (10 percent) and Anglicans (9 percent). It is located 71 miles (114km) Southwest of Makurdi, the Benue State Capital and 179 miles (288km) South South of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. It hosts the Federal Government College and the Otobi Water Project
Otukpo Records of Recent High-profile Attacks, Killings, Kidnappings
Otukpo County has come under relentless attacks, killings and kidnappings by Fulani Ethnic Militia (FEM) recently, including; the killing of 6 persons in the February 6, 2025 attack on Okpomaju, Asa II and Odudaje communities , the hijacking of a Benue Links Bus with 14 passengers the killing of a retired Immigration Deputy Comptroller and kidnapping of 3 others on Tuesday, April 1st, 2025, which sparked heavy protest by Christian youths in Otukpo
the kidnapping of 20 Christian Students on Thursday, August 15, 2024, which sent shocking wave to the world.
Otobi Residents Speak
“We have just found Corpse of my uncle— Andy Igoche.”
Andy Igoche Otobi, an Otobi resident, whose voice was trembling while speaking with TruthNigeria Correspondent in a phone interview said, his uncle was one of the casualties of the attack.
“We just recovered the dead body of my uncle who was butchered while returning from his farm. I can’t talk beyond this for now as Fulani attackers are still around”, Igoche said.
Elizabeth Obochi, another resident of Otobi, also confirmed the invasion of her community by armed Fulani militia.
“Many of our people have been killed. The killing is still ongoing, we are appealing to Security agencies to come and rescue us”, she begged.
10 Corpses Recovered so far– Civil Protection Guards Commander
William Agada Pablo, Commander, Civil Protection Guards Commander in charge of Otukpo County, in a phone interview with TruthNigeria Correspondent, confirmed the attack, saying 10 bodies have been recovered so far.
“Fulani terrorists invaded Otobi Akpa at about 5:30pm (16:30 GMT), shooting sporadically and killing anyone on sight. We got a distress call from one of the residents. We mobilized our men, along with the police and the military,” Pablo said.
New Fulani Terror Camps Deepen Crisis in Otukpo County
A growing security threat is gripping Otukpo County in Benue State, Nigeria, as Fulani terrorists reportedly operate from multiple forested camps across the region. These camps are like the ones operated in Northcentral Nigeria especially Giwa camp in western Kaduna and the Rijana-forest hostage-holding camp in Chikun County, Kaduna.
The vast forest extending from Niger State and across Southern Kaduna for 100 miles has sheltered several infamous torture camps linked to the area near the town of Rijana. Survivors of these camps tell TruthNigeria there are multiple, shifting camps and likely hundreds of kidnapped victims are held there.
Nigerian military spokesmen are refusing to take calls from TruthNigeria reporters regarding the multiple interviews with victim survivors.
Benue’s Terrorist Camps
According to Commander Pablo, the terrorist camps in Benue are in Ohimini Forest, Ojantele, Ojali, Akpa-Otobi, and near Adoka Road. They are being used as launch pads for deadly attacks and as holding grounds for kidnapped victims.
A security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told TruthNigeria that intelligence reports have confirmed the existence of these camps deep within Otukpo’s forested zones. “We have credible information that these terrorists have established a network of operational bases. They are responsible for the wave of kidnappings and violence terrorizing local communities,” the source said.
The attacks have displaced thousands, leaving many villages deserted. Akpa-Otobi and areas along Adoka Road have become particularly dangerous, with repeated reports of ambushes and abductions.
The wide-ranging attacks in Benue have coincided with a killing spree in nearby Plateau State, where 52 unarmed citizens were murdered in their homes on Palm Sunday. Both states are agricultural power houses and majority Christian.
Mike James Odeh and Ekani Olikita, a Conflict Reporter with TruthNigeria.
