No fewer than 89 persons have been reportedly killed in 31 communities in Apa local government area of Benue State from January to date.
This is even as the chairman Apa Development Association, Barr. Eche Akpoko who disclosed this in a press conference in Makurdi also informed that most people in Apa did not vote in the just concluded general election because they were attacked while on queue to vote in the morning of the election.
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Akpoko lamented the attack which has affected their electoral rights and is also depleting their population day by day, even as he faulted the state government for not providing camps for the displaced persons in the area who he said are roaming from one place to another like beggars.
According to him, “Uncountable number of people who are displaced from these 31 communities are just suffering every day without any assistance from any quarters, some households are hosting more than 50 persons in their homes making life unbearable for our people, so as the socio-cultural umbrella body of the Apa people we rise to speak to the world about the precarious and volatile security situation of our people from January, 2023 to date.”
The group dispelled the rumour making the round on social media that the attacks and killings in the area are as a result of chieftaincy/land tussle, describing the rumour and allegations as speculative, spurious and baseless, even as it said such rumours are the handiwork of mischief makers who are out to divert public attention on the real issue.
They listed communities affected by the attacks to include Ope-Ikobi, Ochi-Ikobi, Ijaha-Ikobi, Imana-Ikobi and Oleoke-Ikobi. Other villages attacked are, Ebugodo- Edikwu, Ankpali- Edikwu,Olegijamu- Edikwu, Olekele- Edikwu, Ukpogo-Edikwu, Edikwu-Icho, Edikwu-Oladoga, Okwiji-Edikwu and Ojecho- Edikwu among others.
They also decried how the rampaging marauders attack communities killing women, pregnant women, the aged and children and raping and maiming innocent defenceless indigenes of the local government in their homes and farms using guerilla or asymmetric warfare with the intent of taking over their common patrimony.
“We want to fault the federal government which has failed to give the desired attention that will yield a long-lasting solution to this lawlessness. The trigger-happy marauders are usually shielded and never brought to book, and we pray for the killers of our people to know no peace in their lives and remain wanderers until they are consumed by the amalgam forces.
“We maintain that the rationale for these unprovoked attacks on the people of Apa is a clear case of Fulani invasion and forceful occupation of their land. Our position has been confirmed by a publication trending in the social media wherein Fulani Nationality Movement (FUNAM) has claimed responsibility for the sustained attacks in Benue State,” the group said.
The group also lamented that the people of Apa have suffered both human and material losses from the sustained attacks in the area.