LEADERSHIP NG
There is growing anxiety following the recent spike in terror attacks after the 2023 general elections and the cash crunch that destabilised the nation’s economy.
While there was relative calm in the build-up to the elections in terms of violent terrorist attacks, it is no longer the case as there have been renewed attacks on hapless communities leading to the death of hundreds of Nigerians including women and children, with Benue communities being the worst hit.
Apa, Agatu, Otukpo and Guma towns account for the majority of the casualties in Benue State.
Reports indicate that Apa Local Government Area alone recorded over 250 deaths while no fewer than 75 persons lost their lives in Otukpo LGA within this period.
Agatu LGA, which used to be the epicentre of herders’ incursions in Benue South, recorded minimal attacks with about 30 casualties.
Other places affected include Ikpobi, Odugbo, Ugbobi Akpanta, Ologba, Oyiji and Imana in Apa LGA. Oshigbudu Atakpa and Okpagabi in Agatu were also not spared.
The Christian Pentecostal Church located at Akenawe, Tswarev in Ukemberagya/Tswarev Council Ward of Logo local government area was also attacked by the marauders, who killed a worshipper and kidnapped the pastor of the church and others worshippers.
That attack was followed by the murder of the traditional ruler of Ugbobi community in Apa LGA. He was killed alongside several persons.
There was also the invasion of Umogidi village in Enetekpa Adoka District of Otukpo LGA where three persons were initially murdered by the marauders. Shortly after their burial, the invaders staged a comeback to the village, killing 51 persons.
Just when the people were yet to come to terms with the Umogidi massacre, the attackers stormed LGEA Primary School, Mgban, in Nyiev Council Ward of Guma LGA, where the traditional ruler of the community, who lost two children in the attack, confirmed the death of 37 persons while 37 others including children and women were left with severe injuries.
The clan head of Ucha, Zaki John Akpan, accused government forces deployed in the state of complicity; he specifically accused soldiers of supervising killings of his subjects.
He, therefore, called for the withdrawal of soldiers and deployment of mobile police personnel and Civil defence corps in the area to protect citizens.
“If the government wants to help this nation, the government should withdraw and send soldiers back to the barracks and then deploy Mopol and civil defence,” he said, even ad he dismissed insinuations that the attacks are fueled by the anti-open grazing law promulgated by the state government in 2017.
“What happened here, people are attributing it to anti-open grazing law but we that are here don’t see it as an anti-open grazing law. What is happening in Kaduna, Taraba and other states? What are they saying, but there are also killings there? They say they have deployed security at these places, I’m not challenging them but these problems are persisting. I wonder why insecurity persists despite the presence of security personnel.
“We’ll inform you that this is where those guys (terrorists) are but nothing happens. Armed herders said we are eating their cattle but here in Ngban where they came to kill 37 people, there is no single cattle that anybody touched. Three days before the attack, they came to graze around our houses with their guns. Soldiers will see them with guns but say nothing.
