A wave of violent attacks has engulfed nine communities in the Apa Local Government Area of Benue State, with reports of numerous casualties and widespread destruction by bandits.
Residents, who survived the attacks on Wednesday, fled for their lives as the attackers, identified as bandits, launched a series of assaults, leaving homes ablaze and lives shattered across Apa LGA in Benue state.
Local sources indicated a casualty figure of 25, although Abu Umoru, the area’s representative in the state Assembly, admitted losing track of the count amidst the chaos.
Umoru sadly revealed that nearly all communities in the local government area have been emptied due to relentless attacks.
He said: “The entire Edikpo community has been displaced, the entire Opaha, where I come from, nobody is in that community; Odugbo, nobody is there; Akpete, Ikobi, Akpata, Idiaha, Ochumekwu, Adiga nobody is in those communities.”
The lawmaker said he himself had fallen ill from the strain of the crisis.
According to his statement, “I have gone to my communities to sympathize with my people and because of the killings I have developed a problem that I have to go to the hospital for a checkup.”
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Expressing frustration and helplessness, Umoru highlighted the broader impact of the conflict, extending beyond the local communities.
He decried the lack of effective intervention, despite repeated appeals to higher authorities. “Our representatives at the National Assembly have moved motions times without numbers but what has happened? Who do we cry to? We need to cry to God,” he exclaimed.
The situation is further complicated by the apparent silence from law enforcement and government officials.
According to reports, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, Catherine Anene, claimed to have no information regarding the attacks.
