By Ankeli Emmanuel (In Sokoto State)
Concerned Idoma youths under the aegies of Apa/Agatu Progressive Forum have decried the unabated killings of their kinsmen by armed herdsmen lately.
The group wondered why some people derive pleasure and pride in taking the lives that they cannot create. They affirmed that no fever than 70 persons have so far being killed in villages of Apa,Agatu and Otupko local government within one week in the recent onslaught against their kinsmen.
Addressing newsmen in Ugbopko, headquarters of Apa local government, the National President of Apa/Agatu Progressive Forum, Comrade, Samuel Ebo Adikwu, said most of the communities have already been overrun and under serious attack by these armed Fulani herdsmen.
Recounting the incidences, Comrade Adikwu said, "within a couple of weeks, scores of the nnocent sons and daughters of 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 killed all in Apa local government.
"We cannot ascertain the total number of persons killed in these communities for now as search and rescue mission is still ongoing. This is even as many fled to unknown destinations as well.
"And like people sent on mission to kill, maim and occupy our ancestral homeland, these armed herdsmen extended their heinous killing spree to Omogidi, Entepka and other villages of Otukpo local government area where it was reported that over 50 persons have so far been killed".
In his plea to the state, federal and international community to come to the aid of the Idoma nation, Comrade Adikwu said life has been adversely affected in all the affected communities.
This, according to him, is more worrisome considering the fact that the populace of these affected communities are 100 percent farmers and are being displaced from their farming activities and ancestral homes. This will certainly subject them to famine, devastation and penury.
While calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently direct security presence to the area in addition to setting up a Joint Civilian/ Military Operation and Forward Operation Base (FOB) in the affected areas, Comrade Adikwu, further appealed to the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs) as well as other well meaning individuals to urgently come to the aid of the affected communities by providing urgent relief materials and other succor. NNL.
