Fifteen people killed in an attack on Efeyi-Utikpi community in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State have been laid to rest in a mass burial.
The victims were killed during an attack on the farming community in Ugboju District on July 28, 2026.
Women and children were reportedly among those killed when suspected armed herders invaded the community.
The victims were buried on Saturday amid mourning and grief, as relatives, community leaders and residents gathered to bid them farewell.
The attack reportedly left several residents traumatised, while homes and other properties were also destroyed during the incident.
The mass burial occurred less than three weeks after another deadly attack in Otukpo-Nobi, where eight people were killed on July 12.
According to the police, the victims of the July 12 attack comprised five adults and three children.
The repeated attacks have raised fresh concerns about the safety of farming communities across Benue State, with residents calling on the government to strengthen security measures in vulnerable areas.
A representative of Equipping the Persecuted, a non-governmental organisation, reportedly announced financial assistance for families affected by the attack and support for local vigilante groups.
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Community leaders have continued to appeal to the Federal and Benue State governments to intensify security operations and take steps to prevent further attacks.
The latest mass burial has once again highlighted the growing insecurity faced by rural communities in the state, where residents continue to live with fears over their safety while carrying out their farming activities.
For the bereaved families and the wider community, the burial marked a painful farewell to the 15 victims whose lives were lost in the Otukpo attack.
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