Armed Fulani herdsmen take Otukpo-Ugbokolo-Otukpa-Orokam highway forests, Benue residents alarmed

Residents of the villages along the highway stretching from Okpokwu to Ogbadibo Local Government Areas, LGAs of Benue state have raised the alarm over the occupation of the expansive forests on that axis of the state by armed herdsmen.

They lamented that the marauders have converted the forests to their haven and brazenly engage in attacks and kidnappings of commuters on the Otukpo-Ugbokolo-Otukpa-Orokam road without resistance.

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A member of the Orokam community and practicing Journalist who spoke on condition of anonymity said weekend that the marauders operate in the communities with impunity.

He said “from the information we have received so far from persons that were kidnapped and released after ransom was paid, the gang members are made up of Fulani herdsmen. And the hotbed of their operations is that stretch of road between Ugbokolo and Otukpa. There is a thick forest called Okungaga, that is one of the places they have converted to their fortress.

“These are people who wield sophisticated weapons and we heard that from that point they also take their victims on foot for hours through forests to other parts of Idoma land down to Ado LGA and Otukpa in Ogbadibo LGA to hide them while they negotiation for ransom to be paid for their release.

“As we speak the Otukpo-Ugbokolo-Otukpa-Orokam highway is completely unsafe for anyone to travel on, especially at night.

“Unfortunately security agencies seem so helpless to tackle the menace as no decisive action has been taken to deal with the situation in order rout them out.

“The local Vigilante and the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards also lack the capacity to confront them because the marauders wield automatic weapons and no one in his right sense will dare confront them.”

On their mode of operation, he said, “they usually appear in military camouflage and at night they barricade the roads pretending to be security personnel in a bid to rob and kidnap unsuspecting road users.

“Owukpa where you have a very large expanse of forests between Benue and Enugu state is another of their fortress. The people live in fear and they have become helpless.”

Only recently the traditional ruler of Ogbadibo LGA, HRH Chief Emmanuel Odeh decried the security situation in part of his domain lamenting that armed herdsmen had taken over the expansive forests in the area from where they launch attacks on innocent citizens.

While lamenting the lack of security presence in the area, the royal father said: ”This leaves us vulnerable to attacks, compounded by the extensive forest areas that provide cover for kidnappers.”

Efforts to reach the Benue Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent, SP, Catherine Anene, on the armed herdsmen issue, were unsuccessful.