Ochetoha K'Idoma, the paramount socio-cultural organisation of the Idoma Nation, has urged the federal government to implement decisive military action following a fatal assault on the Akpa Otobi community in Benue State.
The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, 13th January 2026, resulted in four fatalities, including a serving member of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
In a press statement jointly issued by Professor Yakubu A. Ochefu, President General, and Chief Dr Paul Edeh, Secretary General, Ochetoha K'Idoma condemned the incident as "a brutal and unprovoked attack."
An Emergency Situation Report from the Benue State Civil Protection Guards at Benue South Headquarters indicated that suspected armed herdsmen kidnappers invaded Akpa Otobi and adjacent settlements. They reportedly opened fire indiscriminately at a local provision shop while attempting to acquire supplies for captives held in nearby forests.
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Ochetoha K'Idoma stated that the attack was clearly "neither accidental nor spontaneous," asserting it was "a deliberate and calculated operation carried out with full knowledge of the terrain, reflecting the growing boldness of armed groups operating within our homeland."
Among the deceased were a former Local Government Councillor, renowned for his grassroots leadership, and a serving soldier on authorised leave.
The organisation warned that the soldier's killing "constitutes a direct challenge to the authority, credibility, and sovereign responsibility of the Federal Republic of Nigeria."
While offering condolences, Ochetoha K'Idoma highlighted the Akpa Otobi incident as part of a "broader and sustained pattern of violence across Idoma land." The group described the situation as "a systematic campaign of economic and territorial destruction designed to empty communities, sever people from their land, and establish criminal control over forests and transit corridors."
Concerns were also raised about the escalating threat in other parts of Benue South, including Agatu, Apa, and Ado Local Government Areas, which are experiencing increased inflows of armed herdsmen.
Reaffirming its commitment to Nigeria's unity, Ochetoha K'Idoma emphasised that the government's primary duty is to protect lives and property. The organisation rejected any suggestion that affected communities should accept their plight, declaring that "no community should feel abandoned, and no citizen should be made to believe that their life is negotiable."
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Ochetoha K'Idoma called for a shift from reactive deployments to sustained military action, advocating for "coordinated aerial and ground operations to clear ungoverned spaces, dismantling of known terror corridors... and the establishment of permanent, well-equipped security outposts."
The statement concluded with a declaration that the Idoma Nation "will not be intimidated or displaced. We demand justice for the victims, protection for our communities, and the peace and security guaranteed by the Constitution." The organisation expressed readiness to engage constructively with the Federal Government to restore peace and stability.
