Benue Reps Member, Ojema Cries Out, Says Armed Herders Occupying 20 Communities

“Since I entered the national assembly as a representative of my people, I have visited Agatu more than 25 times and all of these bothers on coming to console people that have been attacked by suspected herders.

“I remember vividly when I was just two months in office, there was an attack in Ayila which I needed to put myself together to identify with the people.

“I moved a motion in the floor of the house and not too long, there was another attack in that same place, five security men were killed and I came again, saw it myself and I still went back to the house, moved a motion to that effect.

“As I speak with you, just Tuesday, exactly October 1, while people were celebrating and others were thinking on how to celebrate the independence, another attack happened in Egwuma community where six persons were killed, including the community leader and two soldiers.

“These soldiers were particularly mobilized to that community because of incessant attacks on that same community.

“As I speak with you, over 20 communities in that area have been sacked. The place has been turned into a forest.

“I came to 72 battalion north bank in Makurdi and I told them that there was a need for soldiers to be permanently stationed in that area and they did.

“Over 50 soldiers were taken to the area and on that fateful day, armed herders appeared from nowhere, killed so many people in that community and thereafter they descended on the soldiers.

“The situation is worrisome. The most worrisome aspect of it is that these people wsacked our people and decided to live in the community with their cattle, do their normal business, then look for the next community to attack”