Benue Community Cries Out Over Incessant Attacks

Faced with incessant attacks on Agatu local government area of Benue State, the people of the area have called on the federal and state governments to protect them.

It was gathered that many communities in the local government have come under attack leading to the wanton destruction of properties and loss of lives.

The Odugbeho community in the local government speaking through, Mr Oije Alade Abih, said the government and the international community should come to their rescue.

Abih, in a statement in Abuja yesterday, said the government, security agencies and international community should intervene because the attacks have taken a different dimension.

He said, “I was among the people abducted while travelling to my home town to visit my elderly mother for Christmas. The attack took place at my own local government while travelling from Abuja on the 10th of December, 2023 and took the grace of God and the intervention of the state security personnel before we were rescued on the 18th of December.”

He said a huge amount of money was paid as ransom before his release.

“Those killer herders have destroyed so many lives and property in Agatu over the years. Please we need help from our government and the international community to find lasting solutions to the lingering terrorist attack on our people. We are no longer safe anywhere we find ourselves in Nigeria,” he said.

Abih further narrated how he was traced to his new house at New Karu, Nasarawa State by one of the attackers with intent to assassinate him.

He said, “I recognised the attacker, he is one of those that abducted us in my hometown.”

According to him, on the 22nd of January, 2024, he was traced to his new house address by one of the attackers with the intent to assassinate him but luckily escaped through the fence by divine intervention.

He noted that he notified the security personnel in the area and since then has been hiding for fear of his life.

Abih noted that on the 31st of January three persons lost their lives in another attack on his community and called on relevant authorities and the international community to save their souls.