By Abimbola Ogunnaike
Armed invaders have killed a traditional head of the Igbobi community and two persons in Apa Local Government Area of Benue State.
It was gathered that the incident happened on Monday, 3 April, 2023 and as of afternoon of Tuesday, 4 April, 2023, a search was ongoing for missing people in the community.
The National Chairman of Apa Development Association and State Chairman of Ikobi Community Development Association, Barrister Akpoko Eche, during a telephone chat with a northern based national newspaper confirmed that there was an attack at Igbobi community.
“The community leader was adopted and killed along with two other persons; even as I speak to you now, I have just been informed that there are gunshots right now in the village, which means the attackers have remobilised and returned to the community this morning,” Eche said.
State Secretary of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Ibrahim Galma, reacting to the development, maintained that he was just hearing about the attacks in those areas in Apa.
Galma, also in a telephone conversation, said, “The herders we were communicating with, most of them are in the riverine areas in Nasarawa, Agatu and Naka areas, so we don’t have people in Apa. We don’t know them (attackers). We don’t know where they come from.”
Meanwhile, the state’s Special Adviser on Security Matters, Lt. Col. Paul Hemba (rtd), confirmed the continued attacks on Apa people.
Hemba said he received the information about the fresh attack, which claimed the life of the Igbobi traditional ruler on Monday night, explaining that security operatives have beefed up the area.
Meanwhile, the paramount ruler of Idoma people worldwide, Och’Idoma, Dr. John Eliagwu Odogbo, on Wednesday, 4April, 2023 raised an alarm over the rising attacks and killings of people in Idoma land in Benue State.
Odogbo, who said over 75 people have been killed in recent times by armed invaders, also condemned the latest incident, which claimed the life of the Chief of Igbobi in Apa on Monday, 3 April, 2023.
