n April, communities in Benue state were attacked, leading to media reports of 46 persons killed, although community members who spoke to The ICIR gave the figure as 55. In this report, Jairus AWO visited the four communities of Entekpa ward – Umogidi, Upu, Olakpoga, and Iwili—in Otukpo local government area where the incidents happened to capture the aftermath.

In the rolling hills of Nigeria’s north-central region, the Umogidi, a community in Benue state, once thrived in peace and harmony. The lush farmland boasted bountiful harvests, and the idyllic landscape drew visitors from far and wide. But one day, everything changed. The sound of gunfire shattered the calm of the village, and terror spread like wildfire.

Militias, notorious for their unrelenting attacks on farming communities, had arrived. Armed with sophisticated weapons, they descended upon the Umogidi community with a fury that left able men powerless and trembling.

“We were caught unaware, and chaos quickly ensued. Men, women, and children were brutally slaughtered,” Bako Eje, chairman of the Otukpo local government area (LGA) where Umogidi is located, lamented.

In the blink of an eye, the once-thriving community lay in ruins. The locals who had managed to survive had fled into the nearby forest, fearing for their lives.

Those who were left behind lay lifeless in the streets, discarded like trash. The attack had left a trail of destruction in its wake, and the survivors were left in shock and disbelief.

The attack on the Umogidi community in Entekpa ward in the Otukpo LGA of Benue state on April 5 was just one of many that have occurred in recent times across the Idoma ‘nation’ and, of course, Benue state as a whole.

‘It was an unprovoked attack’
As far as people like Edwin Obiaje, 61, the Egila of Umogidi, can remember, there had never been a fight between the Umogidi community or any of the four communities of the Entekpa ward of the Otukpo LGA and the militiamen who community members described to be predominantly ethnic Fulani and herders.

“What ensued was a total shock to us”, he said.

“We are aware that the militiamen have sacked and pursued our nearby Gwer LGA communities of Mbappa, Ikande, etc. and made those places their permanent locations even till now.”

“But we never knew; they had plans to also drive us away to have the land for themselves.”

“We are farmers; everyone in Umogidi is primarily a farmer. There are few others who know how to manoeuvre and get other things done that fetch them money—like frying akara and cooking at the village market – in addition to their farming,” Obiaje explained.

“All of a sudden, we saw them feasting on our farms. At first, it was just intimidation at gunpoint for those who confronted them.”

“And because they had sophisticated weapons, it is unreasonable to fight them.”

“On the fateful afternoon of April 4, 2023, they stood at our junction and began robbing people of their motorbikes and macheting farmers who were unluckily close by. That day, three community members were gruesomely murdered on their farms,” Obiaje continued.

“Our people scampered for safety. Women, children—they all ran for their safety to nearby bushes, and others were as far as Adoka, a suburb of the Otukpo LGA.”

“The Chairman of Otukpo LGA, Ejeh Bako, mobilised the military personnel to the community the next day, which was April 5, to see how security could be beefed up in the community So that we can at least take one or two things as we vacate the community because we had the feeling that they would still come back.”

“But the military didn’t stay long. The community, through the LG chairman, begged them to stay, at least for a night, or wait until the people that were killed were buried, but one Major A. Awuah, the Commandant of the 72 barracks, Otukpo, explained that they can’t stay for the night, especially since he hasn’t received a command from his superiors, and that he would be unable to account for his men if anything happens to them.”

The chairman of the Otukpo LGA, Bako, corroborated the claims by Obiaje, the Egila of Umogidi. He explained that he told Awuah the local government would cater to their needs for their time spent there, but the major did not oblige and left with his men.

The ICIR could not independently verify the claims about Awuah.

READ MORE HERE: https://www.icirnigeria.org/inside-story-of-attacks-on-benues-entekpa-communities-which-left-scores-dead/