Over 15 persons have been reportedly killed by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen in a fresh attack on three villages in Apa Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue state.
Locals from the area told newsmen on phone that the attack has been on for three consecutive days starting from Tuesday, March 19, 2024. According to them, while five persons were killed on Tuesday, two were killed on Wednesday with eight killed on Thursday.
According to the sources, the herdsmen attacked Akpete, Ijaha, Ochumekwu and Inyapu, all of Apa LGA killing people, burning and leaving several others injured.
A youth leader from Apa, Oche Yakubu told newsmen that “Yesterday evening, Wednesday till this morning on Thursday, March 21, herdsmen have attacked Akpete, Ijaha, Ochumekwu and Inyapu and killed two persons leaving one seriously injured.
“They killed two in Ugbobi, one in Ijaha and wounded one other. In Inyapu, they killed two people making it five people all together”
“There is no reason for these attacks. The people will just gather in the village, would be in their homes and Fulani will just enter the bush and begin to shoot and attack people. They are just killing our people anyhow,” he said.
When contacted the Police Public Relations Officer PPRO SP Catherine Anene said she has no reports on the attacks.
But in a heavy laden voice, caretaker chairman of Apa LGA,
James Umoru, confirmed the attacks saying they are helpless as it has been happening on daily basis and he was not sure of the number of casualties anymore.
“There is no explanation for what you heard, that is the truth. About 95 percent of a section of my community are displaced. The entire Edikpo community has been displaced, Opaha community where I come from, nobody is there, Odugbo, nobody is there, Akpete, Ikobi, Akpata, Idiaha, Ochumekwu, Adiga nobody is in those communities.
“Everyday, they will be burning houses in Akpete. As I speak to you, for three consecutive days, they have been going to Akpete and burning houses after chasing the people out of their ancestral homes.
“They have been laying ambush, killing people, one, two three to five persons on daily basis. Right now I don’t know the number of casualties. It’s so many.
“The killings are terrible. Even yesterday, on the highway around Nasarawa Toto leading to Oweto up to Otukpo, between a village called Ojantele and Orozo, herdsmen put their cows on the road for three hours, no movement, they barricaded the road.”
Umoru said leaders need to take proactive measures to nip the killings in the bud as it has gone beyond mere lip service.
“It is not a question of moving motion everyday at the state House of Assembly. These killings have gone beyond us. Our representatives at the National Assembly have moved motions times without number but what has happened. Who do we cry to, we need to cry to God.
“It’s a pathetic situation. I don’t know what who do. I am speechless. Sometimes, I ask myself why should I contest. I can’t go with my personal resources to do anything anywhere. If people are not happy or settled, how do you impact on their lives.
“How many people can you feed. If they are in their villages, it’s very easy for you to reach them, but if they are not there, how can you take a solar system there?”
Umoru called for urgent step to be taken to stem the tide of the attacks.
