By Prosper Mene, April 15, 2025
A devastating attack by suspected armed herders on the Otobi community in Akpa district, Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, has left many feared dead, with women among the hardest hit. The assault, which began around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, plunged the village into chaos as gunmen opened fire and set homes ablaze, forcing families to flee in terror.
Local resident Edwin Emma, speaking to AIT, described the harrowing scene: “My wife and children are fleeing as I speak. We are helpless.” Women, often tasked with protecting children and maintaining households, faced unimaginable risks during the onslaught. Reports indicate that many were caught in the crossfire while trying to shepherd their families to safety, with some feared among the casualties. “The women were running, carrying babies, but the shooting was everywhere,” a villager told Daily Post, highlighting their vulnerability in the chaos.
The attack, confirmed by lawmaker Kennedy Angbo, adds to a string of violent incidents in Otukpo, including a recent killing at the Otobi Dam. For women in Otobi, already burdened by cultural expectations and economic hardship, the invasion compounds fears of displacement and loss. “Our homes are gone, our children are scattered,” said one woman, who asked to remain anonymous for safety. The destruction of houses leaves women, who often anchor community recovery, grappling with an uncertain future.
Advocates are calling for urgent intervention to protect vulnerable groups, particularly women and children, as hundreds remain displaced. “The government must act to secure these communities and support the women left to rebuild,” said Martha Ikyo, a local gender rights activist. With Otobi hosting critical infrastructure like a federal dam, the recurring violence exposes a broader failure to safeguard rural women from escalating herder-farmer conflicts.
The women of Otobi are showing strength despite their community’s grief, and they’re calling for peace and protection.
