The Benue State Police Command has condemned what it termed “the cruel and tragic attack” on Otukpo-Nobi community in Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State.
Eight persons were killed in an early morning attack on the community on Sunday, July 12, with five others sustaining varying degrees of injuries.
The police issued a statement 24 hours after the attack on Monday, June 13, condemning the same.
Several hours after the attacks, the command said it had no details on the incident.
DSP Udeme Edet, in a statement on behalf of CP Cletus Nwadiogbu, said on Sunday, “At about 6:00 a.m., the Command received a distress call which reported that armed assailants invaded the community shortly after the successful conclusion of the wake and burial rites of the late Mr Adaje Okoh, an octogenarian. The attackers reportedly opened fire indiscriminately, resulting in the death of eight persons, while five others sustained varying degrees of injury. Some thatched houses and a motorcycle were also set ablaze during the attack.”
According to the statement, CP Nwadiogbu has ordered the deployment of additional tactical and operational assets to the affected area and other vulnerable communities to forestall any further breakdown of law and order.
