The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the killing of eight people following an attack by armed assailants on Otukpo-Nobi Community in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State at the weekend.

DSP Udeme Edet, the command’s spokesman, said in a statement that the attack occurred in the early hours of Sunday and left five other people injured. The police casualty figure contradicted claims by survivors, with some residents saying 10 people were killed, while others alleged that 16 people were murdered by suspected armed herdsmen.

“The Benue State Police Command condemns in practical terms the cruel and tragic attack that occurred in the early hours of Sunday, 12th July, 2026, at Otukpo-Nobi Community in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.

“At about 6:00 a.m., the Command received a distress call which reported that armed assailants invaded the community shortly after the successful conclusion of the wake and burial rites of the late Mr. Adaje Okoh, an octogenarian. The attackers reportedly opened fire indiscriminately, resulting in the death of eight persons, while five others sustained varying degrees of injuries. Some thatched houses and a motorcycle were also set ablaze during the attack.

“The Benue State Police Command extends its heartfelt and sincere condolences to the bereaved families and the Benue State in general while praying for the speedy recovery of the injured,” the statement said.

It added that the injured victims were evacuated to a medical facility in Otukpo for treatment, while the bodies were deposited at the mortuary of the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Otukpo.

Edet stated that the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, led police tactical teams and other operatives to the community to restore normalcy, prevent further attacks and commence investigations into the incident.

Nwadiogbu, who condemned the attack, ordered the deployment of additional tactical and operational assets to Otukpo-Nobi and other vulnerable communities to prevent further breakdown of law and order while ensuring a return to normalcy in the affected area.

Security had been reinforced around the area following protests by aggrieved youths after the attack.

The command appealed to residents to remain calm, avoid taking the law into their own hands and support security agencies with credible information that could assist ongoing investigations.

Troops of Sector 7 of the Nigerian Army have intercepted suspected arms traffickers and recovered seven illegal firearms allegedly meant to be supplied to bandits.

This was made known in a post by a security expert, Zagazola Makama, on Monday.

Zagazola said the arrest happened during a targeted stop-and-search operation at Samaru checkpoint in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

According to him, the operation was carried out at about 9:40 a.m. on Monday following credible intelligence regarding the movement of illegal weapons from Jos, Plateau State, to Niger State.

The security expert disclosed that troops had received information that suspected arms racketeers were transporting the weapons in an ash-coloured Mercedes-Benz vehicle.

He added that while acting on the intelligence, security personnel identified, tracked and intercepted the vehicle at the Samaru checkpoint in Zangon Kataf.

Men of the Oyo State Police command have arrested one suspected criminal and recovered a locally made pistol and other illegal items.

The command disclosed this in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade.

The statement was made available to DAILY POST on Monday.

Ayanlade explained that the suspect was arrested on 11th July by officers at Bodija area of Ibadan and is currently in police custody.

He said that the police recovered one locally fabricated pistol and one live cartridge from the suspected criminal.

Other items recovered are sachets of substances suspected to be tramadol, and a passport photograph believed to belong to one of the fleeing suspects.

He added that efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects.

Ayanlade said, “During the search, one of the suspects threw a small bag into a nearby drainage, while two others fled the scene with the motorcycle. The third suspect, Hammed Lateef, was arrested.

“A search of the discarded bag led to the recovery of one locally fabricated pistol, one live cartridge, sachets of substances suspected to be Tramadol, and a passport photograph believed to belong to one of the fleeing suspects”.