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From Scholastica Onyeka Makurdi
Not fewer than 89 persons have been killed, by unknown gunmen in 31 communities in Apa Local Government Area of Benue State, in the last three months.
The Chairman, Apa Development Association, (ADA), Barr. Eche Akpoko, disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Makurdi on Wednesday.
Akpoko, who was flanked by executive members of the association, said within the time under review, property worth millions of naira were destroyed and thousands of persons displaced.
According to him, the deceased victims suffered carnage in the most dastard, gruesome and inhuman manner, adding that in spite of the barrage of attacks on the innocent and defenseless people, the Federal government has failed to give it the desired attention that will bring a long lasting solution to the lawlessness.
He decried that the trigger happy gunmen are never apprehended nor brought to book by the Federal government.
While calling on the Federal Government to deploy law enforcement agents to the flash points to defend and protect the innocent Apa indigenes, the association said “In the event of government failure to protect lives and property as its primary duty, the people may be compelled to activate their rights of self defense which may lead to total breakdown of law and order.
“We further call on both the Federal and State governments to mobilize their relevant agencies such as National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA and Benue State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA to provide relief materials to the improverished without any source of livelihood and have become refugees in their own land”, Barr. Akpoko said.
