‘Recent herders’ attacks displace 18,000 residents’
Benue State chapter of Labour Party (LP) has confirmed the killing, at the weekend, of its chairman for Edikwu Ward in Apa Local Council, Nathaniel Ochoche.
The LP boss, who was killed by suspected herdsmen in Ankpali Village, Edikwu District, was reportedly among the four mourners killed in an ambush that left many injured and several others still missing.
LP Publicity Secretary, Mr. Tersoo Orbunde, told newsmen in Makurdi that the deceased was the Edikwu Ward 2 Chairman of the party.
The statement reads: “It is with rude shock that the Benue Secretariat of LP received the news of the murder of its Chairman in Edikwu Ward 2 in Apa Local Council, Nathaniel Ochoche, who was ambushed and killed by armed Fulani militia.
“Until his death, Ochoche was a consummate party man, who worked assiduously for the growth of his community, constituency and country both in words and works.”
While condemning the dastardly acts of armed Fulani militia, Benue LP condoled with the wife, children and the entire family members of the deceased.
It called on governments and other and stakeholders to rise up to the occasion of protecting the life and property by stopping the unwarranted killings by criminal elements.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Benue, Catherine Anene, said she was not aware of the murder of the party leader, as Apa division and the state command were yet to receive the report.
ALSO, the state government has recorded over 18,000 displaced persons in one month after the recent attacks by suspected herdsmen.
Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Emmanuel Shior, disclosed this to journalists in Makurdi, yesterday, during the distribution of relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP’s) in the state.
According to him, over 40 people were killed in attacks on Omugidi village in Otukpo Local Council.
The SEMA boss said the terrorists also killed other people at Apa Local Council, bringing the tally to over 60.
He added that 8,000 IDPs in Oturkpo were camped in Adoka, while 10,000 others in Apa were taking refuge in Ugbokpo.
Benue has been under siege for a long time. Recent killings in the state added to the burden of taking care of more IDPs.
“We continue to appeal to the Federal Government, through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCRMIP) and other partners that are already here helping us, to sustain their assistance, as our humanitarian crisis has not yet abated.
“They should do more to increase their support. The Federal Government should do more to support the state to return the IDPs to their homes, as they are tired of staying in camps for many years. Public-spirited individuals should also help us,” Shior appealed.
Items distributed include 3,500 bags of rice, 800 bags of beans, 10,000 cartons of noodles, 1,800 bags of garri, 600 bags of salt, 600 cartons of stock cubes and 10,000 tubers of yams.
