Residents of Rijo community, especially Unweje village in Ogege Ward of Utonkon, Ado Local Government Area of Benue State, have cried out over fresh attacks by suspected kidnappers, saying the area has become gripped by fear and insecurity.
In a press statement signed by John Ekueme, Chairman of Rijo Community, local leaders disclosed that the armed groups, believed to have fled neighbouring areas including Otukpo, Akpa and Igede, are now operating from forests around Igumale, the headquarters of Ado LGA.
The residents alleged that the attackers frequently emerge from hideouts in the forests near Igumale to carry out raids on surrounding settlements, with Unweje village said to be one of the worst affected.
“The situation has worsened in recent days as two men from the community are currently missing, raising fears that they may have been abducted during one of the recent attacks.
“Due to the rising insecurity and fear among residents, the only primary school in the community has been forced to shut down, as parents are no longer willing to risk sending their children through unsafe routes,” it stated.
Community members further decried the destruction of farmlands, noting that cassava and yam crops have been repeatedly destroyed, posing a serious threat to food supply and the livelihoods of families who depend on farming.
They called on Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, as well as security agencies, to take urgent action to prevent further attacks and restore safety in the area.
The community appealed for the immediate deployment of security personnel to Rijo and neighbouring villages in Ogege Ward, coordinated operations to dislodge armed groups from forests around Igumale, swift efforts to locate and rescue the two missing persons, and the establishment of a permanent security presence in the affected communities.
The community specifically appealed for immediate deployment of security personnel to Rijo and the surrounding villages in Ogege Ward.
They called for “security operations to flush out armed groups from the forests around Igumale.
“Urgent efforts to locate and rescue the two missing community members and establishment of a permanent security presence to protect rural communities in the area.”