WOMEN IN IDP CAMP BLOCKED ABUJA-LAFIA-MAKURDI ROAD TO PROTEST INCESSANT KILLINGS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES

11th August, 2023

This morning, hundreds of women of all age categories believed to be those displaced from their Ancestral homes and where taking refuge at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp at Ortese in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State where said to have taken over the Abuja, Lafia, Makurdi road to protest the recent brutal murder of their people at Ingbian village.

The protesting women who blocked the road with leafs where seen singing songs of sorrows and calling on Federal Government of Nigeria and the Benue State Government to urgently put in place all the necessary measures and take every possible decision to end the incessant killing of the people. In the event of the ongoing protest, the protesters who demands to see the Executive Governor of Benue State Rev Fr. Alia to register their grievances before the road would be opened.

It is no longer news that the suspected Fulani herders for sometime now have been launching gruesome attacks on the settlers in their farmers thereby killing and destroying peoples farm produce without any security challenge or opposition. This attacks are too many and the vulnerable have been crying for help all night and day without any help.

It is however, not very clear to the Communities whether to accused the security personnel or not since the style of attacks on them has become eminent and hard to know when and where next the attack will come and no one is always arrested for committing such crime.

It is very important to remind the Military to be fair in discharging their responsibilities and duties not to take side with others to kill others but ensure lives and properties are protected. Today's outburst was just one out of many untold evil done against the helpless people of Guma who have lost everything including loved ones.

This protest is another urgent call to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to wake up to his responsibilities and to proffer solutions on the way forward. This move is a sign of unrest intended to stair up bad waters, Tinibu should set in motion all the machineries and ways to protect lives and properties of Nigerians and ensure those behind this heinous killing goes unpunished. 

Nigeria is a country that belongs to everyone irrespective of regional, religious, ethnic and tribal differences. It is our duty to uphold and protect our future and guide our hard earned democracy jealously in order to avoid the unforseen circumstances. There is no need to raise arms against one another haven't know that we are one and will still remain as one. 

We should understand that farming is some people's occupation while cattle rearing is other peoples occupation but both should be respected by territories and borders in order to avoid what we know as Headers and Famers clashes. 

It is a sincere appeal to the Executive Governor of Benue State Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia who during his campaigns promised to do all he can to return the displaced people to their Ancestral homes to liaise with Federal Government and look inward on the best and fastest way to arrest this ugly situation in Benue State. How soon an end to this crisis is a big question but what is important now is to keep a safe eye on the Camp to avoid more attacks. 

Source: Freelancer