Apa, Agatu, and Otupko Communities have recently experienced a wave of violence resulting in the deaths of over 70 persons within a week. Concerned Idoma youths under the aegis of Apa/Agatu Progressive Forum have decried the unabated killings of their kinsmen by suspected armed herdsmen. The group has called on the State, Federal, and International communities to come to the aid of the Idoma nation.
Addressing newsmen in Ugbopko, the National President of Apa/Agatu Progressive Forum, Comrade Samuel Ebo Adikwu, said the Idoma nation is under siege. Most members of the communities have fled their ancestral homes as the killings have already submerged the communities under serious attack by these armed herdsmen.
Within a week, scores of innocent sons and daughters of the Idoma nation were killed in Ikobi, Atakpa, Akpete, Edikwu, Oiji, Ijaha, Odugbo, and Ugbobi where the Chief of the community, Chief Elaigwu Adanu, was also beheaded. The armed herdsmen extended their heinous killing spree to Omogidi, Entepka, and other villages of Otupko local government where over 50 persons were reportedly killed on Thursday.
Comrade Adikwu appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently direct security presence in addition to setting up a Joint Civilian/Military Operation and Forward Operation Base (FOB) in the affected areas. He further appealed to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Non-Governmental Organizations, as well as other well-meaning individuals to urgently come to the aid of the affected communities.
The killings have adversely affected life in all the affected communities, considering the fact that the populace of these affected communities are 100 percent farmers. Being displaced from their farming activities and ancestral homes will certainly subject them to famine, devastation, and penury.
The Apa/Agatu Progressive Forum wonders why some people derive pleasure and pride in taking lives that they cannot give. The group lamented that the Idoma nation is under siege and called on the State, Federal, and International communities to come to their aid.
The situation in Apa, Agatu, and Otupko Communities requires urgent attention to stop the killings and provide relief to the affected communities. The State, Federal, and International communities, as well as individuals, should come together to restore peace and security to the region.