… As Speaker Dajoh sues for peace
From Scholastica Onyeka, Makurdi
Pandemonium, on Tuesday, broke out in Ikpayongo community of Gwer East Local Government Area, (LGA) as locals, blocked the federal highway, Makurdi/Aliade road, keeping villager and motorists stranded for hours.
The local, comprising mainly of women and youths, blocked the federal highway to protest the incessant killings, destruction of properties, abduction of their men and rape of women by militia gangs following the crisis between Mbasombo and Mbaivur communities.
The women bore placards bearing inscriptions such as “We are being raped in our farms” “End This Crisis Now, We Want Peace,” “We Need Security, We want Peace,” “We are Tired of War, We want our Home of Peace,” “Our Farms are Being Destroyed, bWebare Being Killed, We are Being Raped,” among others.
Our correspondent gathered that protesters blocked the road for several hours and despite appeals by the Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. Aondona Dajoh and members of the assembly to clear the road, they remain adamant.
Meanwhile, Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. Aondona Dajoh has sued for peace between the warring communities of Mbasombo and Mbaivur, in Ikpayongo, Gwer East Local Government Area, (LGA), of the state urging them to stop the incessant killings and destruction of properties in the area.
The Speaker made this call when he visited Ikpayongo the area commiserated with the people over the death of their loved ones and assured that government would look into their grievances with a view to proffer lasting solutions.
Dajoh, who defied the heavy downpour to attend to the road block and peaceful protest from Mbasombo women over their outcries of rape and abduction also inspected the level of destruction at the Ikpayongo market where frowned at the ugly development.
The speaker called on the aggrieved protesters to open up the federal highway to allow travellers proceed on their journey assuring that Government would deploy more security personnel to the area to safeguard lives and properties.
The Member representing Gwer East State Constituency, Elias Audu described the situation as very unfortunate and painful and called for immediate deployment of more security personnel to the area.
Mr Douglas Akya, who represents Makurdi South State Constituency, decried the humanitarian crisis, saying many victims who are taking shelter at Apir are in dire need relief materials to alleviate their sufferings.
Akya called on relevant government agencies, including the Nigerian Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA), and State Emergency Management Agency, (SEMA) to provide food and non food items to the displaced persons.
The Women Leader of Mbakough Kindred, Mrs Veronica Orbunde said the peaceful demonstration was to draw Government’s attention to the kidnap of three of their husbands as well as consistent raping of women on their farms by the militia.
As at the time of this report, the Makurdi- Aliade Federal Highway was still blocked, while there were long queues of heavy duty trucks and vehicles parked on the road.