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From Emmanuel Adeyemi, Lokoja
The President of the Bunu Development Association (BDA), Pastor Kolawole Johnson, has called on the Federal Government to intervene in the escalating security and humanitarian crisis affecting Bunu communities of Kogi State , central Nigeria.
Pastor Johnson revealed that over 70 people remain in the hands of kidnappers and that 21 out of the 40 communities that make up Bunu land are currently under attack. Speaking to newsmen in Lokoja on Tuesday, he highlighted the ongoing “Security and Humanitarian Crises” in the area.
He said 37 worshippers of the ECWA Church, abducted nearly a month ago, are yet to be released, including children under five and elderly individuals aged up to 80 years.
“Bunuland, a peaceful agrarian region, is now facing sustained violence marked by killings, kidnappings, terror raids and forced displacement of innocent civilians from their ancestral homes,” Pastor Johnson said.
He explained that farmers are being attacked on their farmlands, travelers are abducted on public roads, and women, children, and the elderly are fleeing their ancestral homes.
“Our entire villages are gradually emptying. This is no longer a local problem; it is a humanitarian emergency and a threat to community survival,” he added.
Pastor Johnson noted that despite government efforts, the scale, frequency, and persistence of the attacks indicate that current responses are insufficient. “Many communities feel increasingly vulnerable and exposed, and public confidence continues to erode. When people lose security, they lose everything: their dignity, livelihoods, culture, and future,” he said.
To address the situation, the Bunu Development Association has launched a community-based initiative called the Bunu Youths Vanguard, aimed at supporting intelligence gathering, early warning systems, and community vigilance under professional supervision. Pastor Johnson emphasized that this is not a call to lawlessness but a structured approach aligned with the rule of law.
He said the community is appealing for: strengthened and permanent security presence in high-risk areas, improved intelligence-led operations, medical and welfare assistance for community defenders and transparent documentation and investigation of all attacks
Pastor Johnson further urged the national and international community to amplify their voices, encourage accountability, and provide timely support for peace-building, humanitarian relief, and community resilience initiatives.
“History will not judge us by our silence, but by our response. Bunuland is asking for protection, not privilege,” he said.
He called on the US forces to beam their searchlight on the forests in Okun land to rescue those held in captivity saying the communities are daiky living in fear and panic
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