…Our people have become helpless -Youth leader
From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
Palpable tension has enveloped Ochoro and other neighbouring villages of Ukpute community in Oju Local Government Area of Benue State following the alleged gruesome murder of a traditional ruler, Chief Denis Okpe Ijoko, on Tuesday.
Chief Ijoko was said to be abducted and later allegedly killed, by suspected Bonta-Tiv militiamen who invaded Ochoro village in Konshisha Local Government of Benue State in a surprised attack.
Though a predominantly Igede speaking village, Ochoro falls under Konshisha LG whose militiamen from Bonta has been attacking Ukpute ceaselessly for the past one year, according to sources.
The lingering crisis led to the murder of 11 soldiers and an officer of the Nigerian Army in April.
Tuesday’s attack on Ochoro left over 50 houses destroyed, according to reports.
Angry youths of the community were said to be spoiling for repraisals but they were allegedly prevailed upon by their elders to stay action as they awaited responses from the security agencies and the state government.
Reacting to the incident, a youth leader from Oju Local Government Area, Anderson Egbodo, cried out that the Igede people in Ukpute are in a dire state of helplessness following persistent attacks on them by Bonta militiamen from Konshisha Local Government Area.
He decried the way, manner and frequency of attacks on the people without any provocation.
Egbodo narrated to our correspondent how on Tuesday the militiamen invaded Ochoro village, which is part of Ukpute community in a Gorilla style, killed a traditional ruler and displaced the entire community.
“Ochoro people are Igede people resident in Konshisha. They are not part of Ukpute-Bonta crisis as they are neither on the side of the Tiv nor Igede. We do not know why the Bonta boys unexpectedly, and without any provocation attacked the area.
“They burnt down over 50 houses, killed a traditional ruler and displaced the entire village. They came back on Thursday and burnt down one house but were repelled by the youths”, he lamented.
Egbodo wondered why Governor Samuel Ortom’s pronouncement of boundary demarcation has not seen the light of the day for more than three months.
“Since the Governor made the pronouncement, all we hear is we are coming and it has become a slogan. Yet, we have not seen them come for any demarcation and the crisis has continued to linger on.
“We are in a state of helplessness. The Police, DSS and other security operatives have this report. We have repeatedly reported to the State Government and nothing has been done. We do not want war, we are peace loving people. But if someone continues to fight you, you will resort to self defense which can only be defined by the person affected”, Egbodo said.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations’ Officer, DSP Catherine Anene, said, “Ochoro community in konshisha LGA was attacked, two persons got missing. This is the report I have”.
However, on the part of Benue Government, Special Adviser to Governor Samuel Ortom on Security Col. Paul Hembah as well as Chief Press to the Governor, Terver Akase, failed to respond to questions posed by our correspondent on what measures government has taken to demarcate the boundary and stop the incessant attacks on Ukpute by Bonta militiamen.
Meanwhile, the murder of the traditional ruler of Ochoro community, Chief Denis Okpe, has elicited angry reactions and mourning across the length and breadth of Igedeland.
“Much as this crisis is between Bonta and Ukpute communities, our people were shocked to learn of the killing of an Igede traditional ruler by the Bonta boys. This is the height of their insanity. But we have urged everyone to be calm as we await government’s response,” a source said on assurance of anonymity.
