Gunmen Kill Teen Herder, Rustle Hundreds of Cattle in Fresh Benue Attack
By Zagazola Makama
Gunmen have reportedly killed a 15-year-old herder and rustled hundreds of cattle during an attack on a grazing herd at Olahimu Village in the Ogoli Oboju area of Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the attack occurred at about 7:00 a.m. on Monday, July 21, when armed assailants stormed the herd belonging to the family of the late Ardo Risku Muhammad, who was himself killed in the area a few weeks ago.
During the attack, the deceased’s younger brother, Muhammad Isiyaku, 15, was shot dead on the spot.
The attackers reportedly made away with about 500 cattle, although many of the animals were later recovered during search efforts around the Okudu axis. Some cattle were also killed during the attack, while others remain unaccounted for.
Four persons were initially declared missing following the incident. However, three of them—identified as Muhammed Ismaiel, 17, Muhammed Hamza, 13, and Abu Ali, a family labourer—later escaped from the attackers and reunited with their family.
One labourer, Saidu Musa, remains missing as search efforts continue.
The incident was reported to the Ogoli Ugboju Divisional Police Headquarters, and police personnel reportedly visited the scene as part of preliminary investigations.
The family appealed to the Benue State Government and security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS), to intensify efforts to rescue the missing labourer, recover the remaining stolen cattle, and apprehend those responsible for the attack.
They also called for increased security deployment to Olahimu, Ogoli Oboju, and other border communities in Otukpo LGA to prevent further attacks and protect residents from recurring violence.
