In a somber display of solidarity, Nigerian lawmakers, Senator Abba Moro and Representative Ojotu Ojema, paid a joint condolence visit to communities in Akpete/Ojantele Council Ward, following a series of devastating attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen. The affected areas, including Ojantele, Akpete, Omelemu, Ataganyi, and Asaba in Apa Local Government Area, have been plagued by violence in recent weeks, resulting in significant loss of life and displacement of thousands of residents.
Senator Moro, who represents Benue South Senatorial District and serves as Senate Minority Leader, expressed his deep concern over the continued insecurity in the area. He recalled presenting a motion on the Senate floor regarding the escalating violence in Benue South and expressed shock that such attacks could still occur in Ojantele, a community located along a major road. “I’m ashamed and tired of always bringing the same sad news to my colleagues in the Senate,” Moro lamented, emphasizing that “these atrocities must stop.”
During the visit, Representative Ojema, who chairs the House Committee on National Inland Waterways, condemned the incessant and unprovoked killings, particularly in his constituency. He and Senator Moro had been abroad on official engagements when the attacks occurred but immediately condemned them upon their return, using national radio and television to denounce the violence. Ojema cautioned against politicizing the crisis, urging youths not to insult leaders working to end the bloodshed. Instead, he encouraged them to redirect their energy towards raising awareness about the suffering of their people, both within Nigeria and internationally.
The lawmakers’ visit was met with appreciation from the communities, with the Och’Ojantele, HRH Chief Emmanuel Edoh, expressing gratitude for their presence, which he said had rekindled hope and given the people a renewed sense of belonging. Chief Edoh also thanked Representative Ojema for initiating the ongoing Ojantele Earth Dam project and called for the deployment of Mobile Police units to Ojantele to enhance security. The youths were commended for their resilience in the face of adversity.
The visit also included a stop at Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Ugbokpo, where the lawmakers sympathized with the victims and assured them of concerted efforts to facilitate their return home and the resumption of farming and other livelihoods. This gesture of support and solidarity from the lawmakers comes as a beacon of hope for the affected communities, reinforcing their determination to restore peace and normalcy to the region.
