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Nigeria: Otukpo Imposes Curfew After Deadly Attack, Protests Erupt
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Culture & Society

Nigeria: Otukpo Imposes Curfew After Deadly Attack, Protests Erupt

From Vanguard · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • A dusk-to-dawn curfew has been imposed in Otukpo, Benue State, Nigeria, following a deadly attack that killed over 22 people.
  • The curfew aims to prevent further breakdown of law and order as angry youths protested the killings and planned to march on the traditional ruler's palace.
  • Security forces are conducting clearance operations after the attack, which began as a cattle rustling incident, and have recovered an assault rifle and ammunition.

A curfew has been imposed in Otukpo, Benue State, Nigeria, after a violent attack left at least 22 people dead and over 35 injured. The local government chairman, Maxwell Ogiri, announced the dusk-to-dawn restriction, effective from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily, to quell protests and prevent further unrest.

I’m trying to avoid people from taking advantage of what is going on to begin to molest people and foment trouble. After consultations with leaders, we decided to impose a curfew from 7pm to 6am. to allow people to rest and restore calm.

— Maxwell OgiriChairman of the Otukpo Local Government Council, explaining the reason for the curfew.

Angry youths had planned to carry the victims' bodies to the Och'Idoma's palace and potentially vandalize the traditional institution. Ogiri stated the curfew was a necessary measure to avoid opportunistic troublemaking and restore calm after consultations with community leaders.

The attack, which occurred early Tuesday, was reportedly initiated by armed bandits intending to rustle cattle. As they fled with the livestock, they opened fire on farmers they encountered. The Benue State Police Command confirmed the incident, with the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Peter Aondongu, detailing the initial response.

Upon receipt of the distress call, police operatives were immediately mobilised to the scene. Preliminary investigation revealed that the armed bandits invaded the community with the sole intention of rustling cattle.

— DSP Peter AondonguPolice Public Relations Officer, describing the initial police response and findings.

During a clearance operation led by the Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, officers engaged in a gun battle with the fleeing suspects. Two bandits were killed, and an AK-47 rifle with 15 rounds of ammunition were recovered. The operation to apprehend remaining suspects and recover stolen cattle is ongoing. The police commissioner condemned the attack and pledged to reinforce security to restore normalcy.

During the exchange of gunfire, two suspected bandits were neutralised, while one AK-47 rifle and 15 rounds of ammunition were recovered. The operation is ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects, recover the rustled cattle and ensure all those connected with the attack are brought to justice.

— DSP Peter AondonguPolice Public Relations Officer, detailing the outcome of the police operation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Vanguard in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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