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By Brown Chimezie
Members of Idoma community in Lagos recently organised a candle light procession to mark a decade of invasion of the homeland by Fulani herdsmen even as they called for an end to killings in the country.
In a statement by the convener, Chief Momoh Uloko, the indigenes said hundreds of lives of Idoma as well as those who came to settle in their community have been lost in the bloody attacks, while many have also been injured.
Specifically, they alleged that the attack of June 7, 2021, at Agatu, was still fresh in their memories.
No fewer than 27 mourners were reportedly gunned down while several others sustained injuries when suspected armed herders stormed the Odugbeho community in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue state, during a burial ceremony.
It was also reported that the marauders invaded and surrounded the community at about 6pm, when the burial ceremony was ongoing and opened fire on the mourners.
At the candle light procession, to mark the one year anniversary of the attack, they claimed that they lost many of their loved ones, while many were yet to be accounted for.
Awaro Dominic, 44, said he lost his parents during the 2022 attack, while his sister, Justina Daniel, 46, and her son have not been seen since the massacre.
He said his parents, in company with his sister and her children, were ambushed in their farm in the Agatu area.
“In the attack, my father and mother were killed along with many others.
“Many houses and farms were set ablaze, while Justina and her children are still missing till date. We don’t know if they have been killed along with others.”
The convener of the event, Chief Momoh Uloko, called on the federal and state governments to ensure that the perpetrators were brought to book.
He said those killed were Nigerians and that it was the responsibility of both the government to secure the life and property of its citizens.
