Kogi attack: IDP pleads with govt to help reunite with family

By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.

MR Joshua Salifu, a farmer, and Internally Displaced Person from Agojeju-Odo community in Omala Local Government of Kogi has called on Kogi State Government to help reunite him with his family displaced in the Thursday bandit attack.

Paul who is currently taking refuge in Bagaji-Odo, a neighbouring community, made the plea on Saturday while narrating his ordeal in an interview with newsmen who were on fact finding mission to the scene of crime.

He said that his wife and children were still missing after the the Thursday onslaught against the Agojeju-Odo community and pleaded with government to help find them.

The distraught farmer explained that when the bandits attacked the Agojeju-Odo community between 3:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, everyone in the village ran helter skelter for their dear lives.

“At that time, we were running for our dear lives. Everyone ran in different directions. I’m here in Bagaji-Odo not knowing where my wife and children are.

“I took part in the burial of the 25 persons killed, but neither my wife nor any of my children was not among them,” he said.

Salifu said that he was helpless and afraid to go back to the village to search for his family members as he pleaded with the authorities to come to his aid.

In their collective cry for help, the displaced victims of the bandits attack on Agojeju-Odo community have called on the Federal and State Governments to restore normalcy and help them return home.

Mrs Patience Akwu, a 67-year old woman, said that life had become rough, tough and hard for them, having lost their farm produce to the attackers and separated from their families.

“We thank God for saving our lives. Here we are in Bagaji-Odo, displaced and suffering. No food, no manageable place to stay.

“All We are ask now is for government to assist in providing adequate security for us to to return home”, she pleaded.

Similarly, another victim, Paul Achegbulu, a farmer, said the attackers who spoke Fulfude and Hausa had come before to attack the community and on the the first and the last occasions, they came shouting and speaking their language.

Achegbulu said that the Thursday attack was the worst and urged the government to help establish military presence in Agojeju-Odo community, a border village between Benue and Kogi States.

Achegbulu said that unless there was adequate security in the community, they would not go back for fear that the bandits might return to unleash mayhem.

According to him, all their foodstuffs such as yam, cassava, maize, cashew and beans were carted away by the bandits.

The District Head of Bagaji-Odo, Chief David Akpa, also pleaded with the government to come to aid of the IDPs and the affected communities.

“This is because we don’t have the kind of sophisticated weapons the bandits have, to face them. God knows we have no problem with the herdsmen around us but why they did this to our people we don’t understand”, the traditional ruler said.

It would be recalled that unknown gunmen suspected to be armed herders invaded Agojeju-Odo on Thursday afternoon, killed at least 25 people and wounded an unspecified number the community members. (Ends)