Soldiers protecting herdsmen killing us – Benue youths cry out

Some youths of Apa, Benue State have raised an alarm that operatives of the Nigerian Army posted to the area are protecting the killer herdsmen ravaging the local government.

Recall that suspected herdsmen recently murdered no few than 100 people in Apa local government area, including traditional chiefs.

The attack prompted a mass protest by youths of the area who blocked the Oweto-Loko/Abuja expressway.

A youth leader in the area, Ahmed Ocheje who spoke to journalists called on the Commandants of the NASME Barracks and 72nd Special Forces Battalion Makurdi to tell Nigerians what they sent their men to do in Apa.

The youth leader said despite the presence of the military the marauding herdsmen still carry out their terror acts without any resistance.

He said, “I’m from another community called Ikobi. Since the 2nd of January, we are being attacked by herdsmen. Nobody from that community can reside in these places. We have been in the local government headquarters [Ugbokpo]. More than how many communities in Ikobi; Okpa, Olopka, Ijaha, Igbobi, Imana, and Akpete have been deserted? All these places I mentioned have been deserted. Which government will not protect its citizens?

“When the youths start shouting, [the government] will say we are making trouble. We are not making trouble. We have been protesting since morning, none of us has raised arms or cutlasses. But Fulani man will be rearing cows with a cutlass, AK47. Nobody will say anything. They [Fulani] have immunity that they are operating that we Nigerians don’t understand. If they are more powerful than other citizens, the government should tell us.

“In a community called Igbobi in this local government, a chief was killed and the hand that controls the [chieftaincy] beads was taken away by the same herders. And you want us to keep quiet? The government should tell us where we belong to. Are we also citizens of this country? I’m asking questions and I need answers. Soldiers will be around the communities but still the Fulani herdsmen will be coming to behead people. What are they here for? Are they protecting us? Are they guiding the communities? Or are they playing games with our lives?”; he queried.