Metro
Traditional Ruler, Two Others Killed In Bloody Benue Land Dispute
A protracted land dispute between the people of Okete in Ohimini Local Government Area, LGA, of Benue state and the neighbouring community of Otukpo-Nobi in Otukpo LGA over the ownership of
Amla-Icho community land has claimed the lives of a traditional ruler and two others in the feuding communities.
It was gathered that the age long dispute was triggered last week when the Chairman of Otukpo LGA, Alfred Omakwu allegedly sent a bulldozer to the disputed land to enable him commence work on the creation of a layout in the area.
The presence of the earth moving equipment angered the people of Okete who moved to stop the destruction of the cultivated land.
In his account on the incident, the Chairman of Otukpo LGA said “the problem is that the Okete people lost it. It is a dispute between Amla in Otukpo and Okete in Ohimini LGA and a total of three people lost their lives in the crisis.
“What happened was that they (the Okete people) used to go and farm in Amla land but sometimes last year when we wanted to develop a layout there, the Okete people went to report to the Och’Idoma that their farm produce were there and the Och’Idoma directed that no layout should be done until they harvest their products.
“February this year, they harvested their produce and the Och’Idoma called them and informed them that by March this year, Otukpo would go ahead with their layout and that they should not farm there again.
“But when the bulldozers returned they said they had farmed there already and reported the matter to their Second Class Chief as well as their LGA Chairman who called me and I told them that the Och’Idoma asked them not to farm there again because of the layouts.
“So when the bulldozer went there on Friday, they came with their lawyer who called me and I told him everything and said if they want to go to court, it was their right.
“They demanded that the bulldozer stopped work but their lawyer advised that they should wait for him to get an injunction from the court but they said they could not wait.
“They then went to the First class chief of Otukpo/Ohimini who called Och’Idoma and the Och’Idoma said they should not stop the people doing the layout because he asked them not to farm their again.
“At that point they went there and opened fire on the people; they killed one and shot two people and burnt all their motorbikes about 10 of them.
“Then Otukpo retaliated the next day; they also burnt some houses and killed one person and killed another person in Amla making two.
“But we have maintained calm. The Police Commissioner summoned all of us for a peace meeting so we are restoring peace now among both parties. We have agreed that all the culprits will be arrested and brought to book.”
Countering his Otukpo counterpart, the Ohimini LG Chairman, Samson Okoh who also acknowledged that the dispute was over land said “there is a place called Amla, it’s close to Okete. The Otukpo Chairman took the bulldozers to the place where the Okete people used to farm for years and according to him he wanted to do a layout. So he went and destroyed their farm crops.
“When the Okete people demanded an explanation, the Amla people said the land does not belong to the Okete people but to the Amla people.
“According to what I was told, when the argument ensued somehow one of them from Otukpo pulled the trigger and shot but the bullet mistakenly hit a fellow Otukpo person.
“Then on Saturday night the Amla people went and reinforced and barricaded the Okete people, burnt houses, beat up ans killed one boy. And on Sunday around 10am when I went to take the boy they killed to the mortuary, the Alma people went to the place again and burnt 17 houses, burnt motorcycles, slaughtered a Clan Head Chief Sunday Okpe, and shot five other persons who we took to the Teaching Hospital in Otukpo for treatment.”
The Chairman who informed that the community had been deserted said the parties had been summoned by the Police Commissioner over the matter and that efforts were on to apprehend the masterminds of the crisis.
On whether the Paramount ruler of Idoma land, Och’Idoma Agaba-Idu John Odogbo asked his people not to farm on the said land again, the Chairman said, “I am not aware of that but the Otukpo Chairman claimed so. I was not told by the Och’Idoma to tell the people not to farm there.
“Moreover, the Och’Idoma cannot tell the people to stop farming where they have been farming for several years without compensation or settlement and you just take the bulldozer to destroy their crops on the hectares of land they eke a living from.”
Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent, SP, Catherine Anene who confirmed the development said the command received the report of one death though she was awaiting full details of the incident.
The Nigerian Army has warned that terrorist groups, including the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP), may be planning coordinated attacks on schools, NYSC orientation camps, churches, and other vulnerable public places across the country.
The army made the observation in a statement dated September 9, 2026, signed by AM Sodiq and addressed to the General Officer Commanding, 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Adekunle Fajuyi Cantonment, Ibadan.
It explained that there is increasing mobilisation of resources and foot-soldiers by terrorist groups for possible attacks in parts of the country.
The Army also said it had received information about the movement of scores of armed fighters from Katsina through Kaduna towards Plateau State.
The military further disclosed that suspected ISWAP members had started monitoring some of the identified targets, allegedly with the help of local collaborators.
While noting that the attacks could happen any moment from now, the Army expressed particular concern about schools ahead of the resumption of the 2026/2027 academic session.
It said the terrorists could be planning to exploit the return of large numbers of students and teachers to cause mass casualties and create fear.
The military added that the timing was intended to exploit the concentration of students and staff to cause mass casualties as well as heighten public fear and insecurity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Airport Police Command has debunked reports of a terrorist attack at the Asaba International Airport in Delta State, revealing that the security operation witnessed at the facility was part of a planned simulation exercise.
The exercise, conducted on Thursday, September 10, 2026, was organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to assess the preparedness of security and emergency-response agencies in handling potential threats.
According to the Airport Police Command, personnel from various security agencies were deployed as part of the controlled exercise, which was designed to recreate a simulated security incident within the airport environment.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Adeola, said the exercise tested critical areas including inter-agency coordination, communication, command and control, and emergency response.
The Command stressed that no terrorist attack, invasion or security breach occurred at the airport, contrary to claims circulating on social media.
Police described the operation as a “controlled and authorised activity” and appealed to members of the public, particularly travellers and airport users, not to panic or share unverified reports.
The Command assured that security at the airport remained under control, adding that security agencies would continue to maintain vigilance around passengers, staff and critical airport infrastructure.
The Police further advised the public to rely on information released through official government and security channels, noting that such simulation exercises are part of broader efforts to improve Nigeria’s response to possible security emergencies.
The Anambra State Police Command has foiled a suspected kidnapping attempt and rescued a 16-year-old victim, Favour Ayogu, at Ekene Junction, along Oguta Road, Onitsha, the commercial hub of the state.
According to The PUNCH, the victim was allegedly abducted in Igboeze South Local Government Area of Enugu State by a kidnap syndicate and later abandoned when the abductors approached a security checkpoint in Onitsha after security operatives thwarted their moves.
In a statement released on Monday, the spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, said the rescue of the victim followed improved strategic joint security operations conducted on Sunday night.
Ikenga said the abductors abandoned their victim and fled after a hot chase by security operatives who had earlier suspected their movements.
According to him, the command has intensified surveillance to apprehend the suspected abductors while seeking the public’s assistance to reunite the victim with his family in Enugu State.
The statement read, “The Anambra State Police Command has intensified efforts to apprehend a suspected criminal gang following the rescue of a 16-year-old boy, Favour Ayogu, who was allegedly abducted in Igboeze South Local Government Area of Enugu State and later abandoned near a security checkpoint in Onitsha.
“The rescue followed improved strategic joint security operations conducted on the evening of September 13, 2026.
“A joint patrol team operating at Ekene Junction along Oguta Road, Onitsha, intercepted the victim after he was reportedly dropped from a black Toyota Highlander SUV by unidentified persons close to the security checkpoint.
“The swift response of the joint patrol team led to the boy’s rescue and prevented further harm. The Command has since stepped up surveillance and other intelligence-led measures to identify, trace, and arrest those responsible for the alleged abduction.
“The Anambra State Police Command appeals to members of the public, particularly residents of Igboeze South and Ibagwa-Aka in Enugu State, who may have information that could assist in locating the victim’s family, to contact the nearest Police Station or the Anambra State Police Command.”
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, Nnanna Ama, commended the joint patrol team for its vigilance and professionalism.
Ama further urged personnel to sustain intelligence-led patrols, strategic checkpoints and coordinated security operations across the state.
“The Command reassures residents and visitors of its unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property, responding swiftly to distress situations, and ensuring that criminal elements have no safe haven in Anambra State,” the statement added.
(PUNCH)
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