Amnesty demands probe into deadly Otukpo attack, urges protection for civilians

Amnesty International has called on the Nigerian authorities to conduct an independent, impartial and effective investigation into the deadly attack on the communities of Otukpo Nobi and Akpachi-Ugboju in Benue State, where at least 10 people were killed on Sunday, July 12, 2026.

The human rights organisation said the attack has created widespread fear and panic across Otukpo Local Government Area and neighbouring communities, stressing that the government must fulfill its primary responsibility of safeguarding lives and property.

“The Nigerian authorities must carry out an independent, impartial and effective investigation into the deadly Sunday, 12 July, 2026 attack on Otukpo Nobi and Akpachi-Ugboju Benue state in which at least 10 people were killed,” Amnesty International said.

The organisation noted that protests staged by youths after the attack revealed the growing frustration over persistent violence and kidnappings in the state.

“Protests by youth in the aftermath of the attack shows that people have had enough and seek an end to frequent attacks and abductions that have made life a hell in many parts of Benue state,” the statement read.

Amnesty added that the decision by protesters to carry the bodies of victims to the Och’Idoma Palace underscored the urgency of ending the bloodshed.

“The fact that the protesters carried the victims’ corpses to the Och’Idoma Palace to register their grievances is another indication that it is time to urgently end the bloodshed,” it said.

According to the organisation, families of some victims told Amnesty International that several people remain missing following the attack, while many others sustained serious injuries.

Amnesty further warned that repeated attacks on rural communities have left Benue State with “fresh graves and several internally displaced persons’ camps.”

It also urged the authorities to take urgent measures to protect civilians and address the worsening humanitarian situation.

“The Nigerian authorities must take urgent steps to protect lives and avert a humanitarian catastrophe in Benue where attacks by gunmen have displaced at least 500,000 people, many of whom are languishing in squalid camps without access to sufficient water, poor sanitation, food and healthcare,” Amnesty International said.

The organisation also called for accountability, saying, “The authorities must also prioritize holding suspected perpetrators to account.”