Residents of Benue state have continued to express fear over security situations in the state with people being killed almost on daily basis while over 2 million others are displaced to Internally Displaced Persons, IDP camps.
Residents who spoke to our correspondent in Makurdi, at the weekend, said at their last count, close to a 100 persons has bee killed in Benue communities by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen militia.
Our correspondent reports that while 36 persons were killed in Gbeji, Ukum local government area on the 19th of October, 22, 16 were killed in Yelwata area of Guma LGA as 20 others were killed in Ukohol in Guma LGA, between 3rd and 4th November 2022.
Also in Ado LGA, 28 person were killed last week Monday following a communal clash that spread from neighbouring Ebonyi state into Benue.
While residents wonder why the killings are going unabated, gunmen suspected to be remnants of the slain Benue warlord, Terwase Akwaza aka Gana killed five persons at Pevya town in Katsina Ala LGA area of Benue State.
It was gathered that the suspected gunmen stormed a drinking joint where there target was having nice time with friends on Wednesday which happened to be market day in the community.
According to a source, the gunmen had trailed a man identified as Oliver who was a member of Vigilante Communty Guards to the joint where they shot him and four others death and several others injured.
The source who declined to mention his name for fear of the gunmen said that Oliver was killed because he had been an informant to security operatives in the area…
“It is true there was an incident at a community called pevya which is a border Taraba but in Katsina Ala local government area of Benue State.
“There is a member of Vigilante Communty Guards that was shot by local bandits at pevya with four others. His name is Oliver.
“We leant that the man had been a target of the bandits for sometime now because they believed that he was an informant to security men in the area.
“On Wednesday which happened to be a market day some local bandits numbering five who were gang members of Terwase Akwaza aka Gana came in a tinted vehicle and trailed him to a joint where he was with other people.
“It was a market day and the bandits on sighting him opened fire on him and others at the drinking joint and succeeded in killing him and four others. Several people were injured who are currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.
These are a few examples of the numerous activities that have turned the state into a killing field sending fears down the spine of most residents.
Speaking to our correspondent, a resident, Terungwa Kucha, said many people are truamatized and have not been sleeping with their two eyes closed.
“The news of killings especially on villager by herdsmen sends fears to us. We can’t go home to attend to our farms. We are even afraid to go to the market. This is not good.
“For our people in the villages, it’s even worse because the attackers come at night. Sonyoubstay awake almost all night because you don’t know when the enemies would strike.”
Another resident, a commercial driver who didn’t want to be named said their business is also affected by the insecurity tuation in the state.
He noted that in the past, he could load passengers to neighbouring states like Nasarawa, Enugu or Taraba but he has stopped embarking on such night journeys for fear of being attacked and kidnapped. “This has affected my income. Some weeks, I default in balancing my oga who iows the bus.”
He also expressed worry that as they enter the Yuletide season, many perssengers may be stranded because most drivers may not want to embark on certain journeys to avoid the bad boys.
A trader who goes to the market in the hinterland to buy yams for sale said she has not traveled for some time now for fear f being attacked adding that the situation is affecting her business.
The residents were unanimous in calling the federal government to rise to their responsibilities toput an end to the killings and other criminals activities to an end.
Meanwhile the state government have continued to pledge their commitment to the fight against insecurity in the state.
The Special Adviser to Governor Samuel Ortom on security Matters, Lt. Col. Paul Hembah rtd, said the government is working closely with the conventional security agencies in the state as well as well as the state Volunteer Guards to ensure the safety of all residents in the state.