ABUJA — Amnesty International has called on the Federal Government to launch an independent and impartial investigation into the deadly attack on Otukpo Nobi and Akpachi-Ugboju communities in Benue State, where at least 10 people were killed.
The rights group, in a statement on Monday, said the July 12, 2026 attack has triggered fear and panic across Otukpo Local Government Area and surrounding communities, urging authorities to act swiftly to protect lives.
“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 by youths following the attack reflect 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 further highlighted that protesters carried the bodies of victims to the Och’Idoma Palace, describing it as a sign of deep anger and urgency.
“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 added.
According to the organisation, several persons are still missing, while others sustained serious injuries during the attack, based on accounts from affected families.
Amnesty warned that recurring attacks on rural communities have worsened the humanitarian situation in Benue, leaving many displaced.
“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,” the organisation said.
It also called for accountability, urging the government to ensure that those responsible for the attack are brought to justice.
