(June 13, 2025) — Concerned citizens from Agatu, Apa, and Gwer West LGAs in Benue State are sounding a dramatic alarm, warning that their communities are sitting on a ticking time bomb. They accuse members of the Odejo community in Agatu of conspiring with armed herders to attack, kidnap, and destroy their villages — turning their once-peaceful homelands into killing fields.
In a scathing open letter addressed to Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia on Thursday, the groups demanded decisive, urgent action to dismantle a growing conspiracy that has emboldened the attackers and made a mockery of the state’s peace and security apparatus.
The petition highlights alarming reports that Odejo has become a base of operations — a safe haven and logistics hub for herders — allowing them to move in, attack nearby communities, and withdraw safely under the protective umbrella of locals. The conspiracy, according to the concerned groups, runs deep and reaches into the community’s power structures, with suspects — including traditional authorities — allegedly providing cover, negotiating ransoms, and reselling looted properties at cut prices.
One dramatic incident underscores their alarm: two young men from Ikobi — Abu George Bagudu and Emmanuel Noah — were recently abducted by suspected herders. While a ransom of ₦100,000 was demanded and handed over to the chief of Odejo, Mr. Yakubu Boyi, in exchange for Emmanuel’s release, Abu George Bagudu remained in captivity — adding weight to the suspicion of collaboration. Furthermore, reports suggest that properties stolen during attacks are openly resold within Odejo, fueling a thriving black market for spoils of violence.
The groups insisted this is not a collection of isolated crimes but a systematic conspiracy threatening peace and stability across Benue South. Without decisive intervention, “Odejo may become a breeding ground for organized violence — a new Sambisa within our state.”
While commending Hon. Melvin Ejeh, Chairman of Agatu LGA, for attempting to bring peace, the groups stressed that the crisis has gone far beyond the capacity of the local government and now requires a strong, decisive intervention from the state and security agencies.
In their appeal, the concerned citizens demanded:
A comprehensive security operation to dismantle the herders’ base in Odejo.
A thorough investigation into community members — including traditional authorities — suspected of colluding with the attackers.
The deployment of additional security formations to vulnerable areas in Agatu, Apa, and Gwer West.
“If urgent action is not taken, this conspiracy will consolidate its grip and undermine peace, stability, and development in Benue South. Our people are under siege, and we can’t wait a moment longer for decisive intervention,” the group said in a dramatic call to action.
They challenged Governor Alia to treat the alarm raised by the communities as a matter of state emergency and move swiftly to dismantle this conspiracy threatening their lives and future.
