Eight years after the Agatu massacre in Benue State where over 500 lives were lost and more than 7,000 individuals displaced, the killings have continued unabated.
Idoma women raised the alarm at the press conference in Abuja yesterday.
Speaking under the aegis of Idoma Daughters and Wives Association, its President, Dr. (Mrs) Sarah Ogah-Aduwari, called for the establishment of army barracks in Apa/Agatu axis of Idoma land to arrest the situation.
She also made a case for the setting up of state police to promote community policing.
The group tasked the federal and state governments to collaborate with relevant agencies and organisations to address the plight of the people by urgently addressing the growing suffering of the displaced families and facilitate their return to their ancestral homes.
In an emotional-laden voice, Ogah-Aduwari said: “Over the years, Benue State has been known as the “Food Basket of the Nation”. The predominantly agrarian population and fertile lands in the Benue State have contributed greatly in ensuring food security in Nigeria. This trend has unfortunately been reversed by pervasive insecurity that has enveloped the state in recent years, especially in the Benue South Senatorial District that is home to Idoma people.
“Suspected armed herdsmen have been invading Idomaland on consistent basis. This has led to death of thousands of Idoma people and destruction of property worth billions of Naira. Parts of Agatu, Apa, Otukpo and Okpokwu Local Government Areas have been devasted by these armed groups. Many families have been displaced, and the people have fled their ancestral homes to take refuge in IDP camps. The crops our people have harvested have been destroyed by these suspected armed herdsmen and hunger has become the companion of peace loving people. Our people have lost their sole means of livelihood as they can no longer go to their farms due to the pervasive insecurity occasioned by these armed attackers. Many of our settlements have been deserted because the people cannot sleep with their two eyes closed for fear of persistent attacks of these armed marauders.
“As responsible daughters and wives of Idoma nation united under the umbrella of Idoma Daughters and Wives Association (IDWA), we are constrained to raise our voice and draw attention of the world to the agony of our people.
“As mothers, our hearts continue to ache as we continue witnessing the wanton destruction of lives and the hardships our people re going through in these challenging times in our nation’s history”.
