As Benue State continues to mourn one of its bloodiest attacks in recent months, social media activist VeryDarkMan, popularly known as VDM, has claimed he received a video from individuals he identified as Fulani, which they alleged was among the events that preceded the violence in Otukpo.
The activist made the disclosure while reacting to the deadly assault on communities in Otukpo Local Government Area, where dozens of residents were reportedly killed in an attack blamed on suspected armed herders.
Speaking in a video shared on his official Facebook page, VDM said he woke up to news of the killings before receiving messages from people who identified themselves as Fulani.
According to him, they forwarded a video showing an Idoma social media influencer allegedly celebrating the release of individuals arrested in connection with the killing of the Benue State chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Ardo Mohammed.
VDM claimed the senders suggested that the clip may have contributed to the chain of events that culminated in the latest attack, although he did not provide independent evidence linking the video to the violence.
He described the incident as heartbreaking, lamenting the loss of lives and expressing concern over the cycle of retaliatory attacks in the state.
The latest violence occurred on Sunday when armed men suspected to be Fulani herders reportedly invaded Akpachi village and the Otukpo-Nobi axis in Otukpo Local Government Area.
The assault claimed the lives of scores of residents, with local sources putting the death toll at more than 50, while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Also Read: Protesters storm Och’Idoma palace with victims’ bodies after fresh Benue killings
The attack is widely believed to have been carried out in retaliation for the killing of Alhaji Ardo Mohammed, the Benue chairman of MACBAN.
Mohammed was shot dead by gunmen on June 26, 2026, shortly after attending a peace meeting in Ohinmini Local Government Area, an incident that further heightened tensions in the area.
Rescue efforts were still ongoing as of the time of filing this report, with more bodies reportedly being recovered from affected communities.
Several injured victims remain hospitalised, while security agencies continue operations in the area amid fears of further reprisals.
Authorities are yet to officially establish whether the video referenced by VDM had any connection to the attack, and his claims remain unverified.