Benue community raises alarm over renewed attacks

Residents of Rijo community, particularly Unweje colony successful Ogege Ward of Utonkon, Ado Local Government Area of Benue State, person cried retired implicit caller attacks by suspected kidnappers, saying the country has go gripped by fearfulness and insecurity.

In a property connection signed by John Ekueme, Chairman of Rijo Community, section leaders disclosed that the equipped groups, believed to person fled neighbouring areas including Otukpo, Akpa and Igede, are present operating from forests astir Igumale, the office of Ado LGA.

The residents alleged that the attackers often look from hideouts successful the forests adjacent Igumale to transportation retired raids connected surrounding settlements, with Unweje colony said to beryllium 1 of the worst affected.

“The concern has worsened successful caller days arsenic 2 men from the assemblage are presently missing, raising fears that they whitethorn person been abducted during 1 of the caller attacks.

“Due to the rising insecurity and fearfulness among residents, the lone superior schoolhouse successful the assemblage has been forced to unopen down, arsenic parents are nary longer consenting to hazard sending their children done unsafe routes,” it stated.

Community members further decried the demolition of farmlands, noting that cassava and yam crops person been repeatedly destroyed, posing a superior menace to nutrient proviso and the livelihoods of families who beryllium connected ...