Two arrested over Benue killings

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has disclosed that two people have been arrested in connection with the killing of eleven people at Otobi in Otukpo Local Government Area of the state, on Tuesday night.

Alia disclosed this to a journalist on Wednesday.

He said the National Security Advisor, Nuhu Ribadu, has promised to deploy more security operatives to the state to arrest the renewed wave of attacks.

Suspected armed herders had invaded the Otobi community in Otukpo LGA on Tuesday night, burning down houses and engaging in a killing spree.

Residents of the troubled community were reported to have fled the area to neighbouring villages.

Alia, however, said that more security men had been deployed to the affected area and added that three suspected herdsmen arrested in connection with the Otobi killings

He said, “The National Security Advisor has promised to deploy more security operatives to the state following the current wave of attacks in the state, particularly, the incessant attacks on Otukpo.

“The killing in Otobi yesterday (Tuesday) is condemnable and I am calling on security operatives to track down the perpetrators.

Earlier, the lawmaker representing the area in the Benue State House of Assembly, Kennedy Angbo, said that the attackers invaded the community around 5:30 pm on Tuesday.

Angbo disclosed that 11 people were killed in the Otobi community on Tuesday, with many others who sustained injuries receiving medical treatment in Otukpo.

The lawmaker said that nine corpses were recovered last night, while two others were discovered on Wednesday.