In a recent attack on the Umogidi community in the Entekpa Council ward of Otukpo Local Government Area, bandits have claimed the lives of two farmers and injured two others.
The attackers also seized one individual during the incident, signaling a broader effort to displace residents from their ancestral lands.
The deceased had previously sought refuge from their homes due to similar assaults but had returned to their farms, where they tragically lost their lives.
Reportedly, the bandits targeted the farmers while they were working, resulting in one abduction and two injuries.
Local sources indicate that the bandits are now demanding a ransom of N5 million for the safe release of the kidnapped victim.
“All of these victims are IDPs who went to fetch food in their farms and were attacked by the same armed herders who chased them away from home in the first place.”
In a telephone conversation with journalists on Thursday, the Caretaker Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Alfred Oketa Omakwu, confirmed the incident.
He stated that the victims were internally displaced persons (IDPs) who had ventured to the farm on Tuesday but were subsequently attacked.
Omakwu confirmed the deaths of two individuals in the assault.
He also mentioned that the bandits targeted another village, Upu in Otukpo, on Wednesday. However, their attack was thwarted by soldiers who engaged them in a gun battle from the afternoon until 7 pm.
The chairman noted that there was no record of death in the Wednesday attack because of the swift response by soldiers.
Omakwu said, “The IDPs are camped in St. Charles Primary School while most of them as they are going to their farms to fetch farm produce, rented one room for their family to stay in Adoka central.
“They (victims) left Adoka where they were taking refuge and went to their farms at Umogidi when they were attacked, two of them were killed.
“Yesterday (Wednesday) there was another attack in Upu village, they (armed invaders) opened gunfire on the village, the soldiers were there, so they engaged them and chased them to the bush. They exchanged gunfire till 7 pm and they (armed invaders) ran away. There was no casualty.”
Efforts to get the reaction of the police spokesperson, Catherine Anene, were not successful as her phone line did not connect.
Leave a Reply