3 killed, 5 missing as herdsmen attack Benue community

From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi

Gunmen suspected to be armed herdsmen attacked the Adija community in Apa Local Governments Area (LGA) of Benue State, on Easter Sunday, and killed innocent villagers.

A source, who didn’t want to be named for fear of victimisation, told Daily Sun that no fewer than five people were killed in the attack.

Speaking to newsmen on the phone, in Makurdi, yesterday, Chairman, Apa Development Association (ADA), Barr. Eche Akpoko, confirmed the attack.

He said: “Yes, it is true. I can confirm it authoritatively, and as I speak, three dead bodies have been found so far. I describe this as a routine attack by the herders. They attacked the community and five people, all youths, are missing and as we speak, they have been able to recover three bodies, and two are yet to be found. We don’t know whether those ones were actually killed or they are just missing.”

Akpoko, who described the attacks as disheartening, explained that the armed herdsmen come every now and then, attack their people and go without challenge.

“It’s very alarming and the government is doing very little about it. The thing didn’t just start now, it didn’t start yesterday, and the government cannot find a permanent solution to it. On daily basis, people are being killed, people are being maimed, women are being raped and children are being massacred. For how long can this continue?”

The association’s chairman, who noted that the country appeared to be sliding into a state of anarchy, advised the people to prepare for self defence as ‘it has become obvious that the government cannot protect or defend them’.

Akpoko visited the LG headquarters for an on-the-spot assessment. He acknowledged the efforts of members of the military, but lamented that they appeared to be overwhelmed by the situation. He lamented that almost all the villages are being attacked, adding that the soldiers are not enough to secure the entire place. He further called on the state government to open a displaced persons camp in Apa.

“There is no designated IDP camp that the government is taking care of. People are just grouping themselves, particularly those who do not have relatives that can accommodate them as they are being chased away from their villages.

“They sleep anywhere in the open space, under a tree or anywhere they can lay their heads. Our people at the LGA are helpless, no home, no food. Government should come to our aid,” he said.