By Winnie Onu, Makurdi
Fresh grief has gripped people of Oju in Benue State following the brutal killing of a newly-wedded groom and his friend along the Awajir-Oju Road in Gwer East Local Government Area.
The victims, identified as Jonathan Uko and Ogoda Gabriel, both of Igede origin from Oju LGA were travelling to Makurdi on a motorcycle on Monday when unknown gunmen ambushed and killed them in Ulam community of Gwer East LGA.
The tragic incident has sparked outrage and sorrow across Benue, particularly in Oju, where Jonathan had just celebrated his wedding on August 2, 2025 barely two days before his untimely death.
His best man, Gabriel was also a new father, leaving behind a grieving wife and infant child.
While accounts of the attackers’ identity remain conflicting, some locals alleged that suspected armed herders carried out the killings, while others hinted at local militia involvement.
But, residents said Ulam, a Tiv-speaking community where the bodies were discovered, has no recent history of conflict with the Igede people.
“This is heartbreaking. Jonathan just got married on Friday. Now his young bride is a widow. Gabriel’s wife just gave birth. We’re still trying to make sense of this,” a resident of Oju said.
A Tiv resident from Gwer East, however, maintained that armed herders were likely responsible, citing similar road ambushes in the past.
“Just last week, two Tiv people were killed on that same road. This is becoming a pattern,” he said.
The killings have drawn swift condemnation from political leaders. Senator Abba Moro, who represents Benue South Senatorial District, described the attack as barbaric and senseless.
“This is very unfortunate and lamentable. These young men had their lives ahead of them. I urge security agencies to leave no stone unturned in fishing out the killers,” Moro stated, also calling on the state government to intervene in the crisis brewing along the Gwer/Konshisha/Oju axis.
Governor Hyacinth Alia has also ordered a 48-hour ultimatum for security forces to apprehend the killers.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, the governor condemned the murders and linked them to rising insecurity in some rural corridors.
“No individual or group has the right to attack or take life under any guise,” Alia said.
The governor warned that his administration would not tolerate acts that could destabilise the fragile peace returning to Benue.
