By Sunday Ogli, Makurdi
NO fewer than five persons have been reportedly killed on Easter eve by suspected armed Fulani herdsmen in Adija, Apa Local Government Area of Benue State.
A local who spoke to our reporter said the victims were killed when the armed herdsmen who are always lurking in the bush attacked the community at the early hours of the day, shooting sporadically.
“They carried sophisticated weapons and were shooting at anyone in sight. At the end of the day, they killed five youths. Others ran for safety.
The Chairman of Apa Development Association, Barrister Eche Akpoko who spoke to journalists on phone on Monday, confirmed the killings, describing the situation as alarming.
“I describe it as a routine or the usual attack by the attackers. They attacked the community and five persons; youths were 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.
“This has almost become a routine almost on a daily basis. The people are around the places there, they are in the bush, in the forest around and they strike anytime they want. It’s very sad.
“They people have almost abandoned all the villages and they are now roaming around at the LG headquarters with no places to lay their head, no food. In fact they are almost living a very hopeless life.
“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 this.
“On daily basis people are being killed, people are being maimed, women are being raped, and children are being massacre. For how long can this continue?
“The country appears to be sliding into a state of anarchy because as it were, every person would have to prepare for self defense otherwise, the Government cannot protect us, and Government cannot defend us. It’s very sad.
“I’m just coming from the LG headquarters for an on the spot assessment. The place is so hot.
“Members of the military are here and there and they appear to be overwhelmed by the situation. Almost all the villages, the attacks are going on and how many of these military guys do we have that will cover the entire space. That is the situation,” Barr Akpoko lamented.
On how the people are coping with the issue of displacement as a result of the incessant attacks, Barr Akpoko said, “people just group themselves particularly those that 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 trees or anywhere they can lay their heads.
“There is no designated IDP camp that government is taking care of.”
When contacted, the police spokesperson in the state, Superintendent of Police, SP Catherine Anene, said she was not aware of the situation.
