The Association of Idoma Lawyers (Owa Ka’Okepo Ki’Idoma) has called on the Federal Government and the Benue State Government to urgently halt what it described as “brutal and senseless” killings in Idoma communities of Benue State.
In a statement issued on Friday and jointly signed by its Leader, Chief Godwin Obla (SAN), and President, Dr. Joshua Musa (SAN), the association warned that the persistent attacks were pushing affected communities to the brink.
“Our people have been pushed to the wall and, if help does not come from any quarter, they may be compelled to resort to self-defence with sticks and stones,” the statement said.
The lawyers condemned what they described as a barbaric attack on the Akpa-Otobi community in Otukpo Local Government Area, allegedly carried out by armed Fulani herders, which reportedly claimed about four lives.
Among those said to have been killed was Mr. Igbabe Ochi, a former House of Assembly candidate for the Otukpo-Akpa State Constituency in the 2019 general election. The attack was reported to have occurred around 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday, following a failed kidnap attempt in the community on Sunday night.
Reacting to the incident, the association said the recurring attacks on residents of Otukpo, Ohimini, Apa and Agatu local government areas should be of serious concern to both state and federal authorities. It urged security agencies to demonstrate the same resolve being applied in tackling insecurity in other parts of the country.
According to the lawyers, attempts by armed groups to displace people from their ancestral homes were “wicked, dehumanising and unacceptable,” adding that crops and economic trees worth hundreds of millions of naira were being destroyed while residents watched helplessly.
They further stated that the constitutional rights of the people to own property, particularly farmlands under repeated attacks, were being violated.
“The right to own property is guaranteed under Section 43 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), yet it appears as though the Constitution no longer applies in Idoma land,” the statement said.
The association lamented that the economic, social and cultural lives of the people had been severely disrupted, while their right to life remained inadequately protected.
“The laws of all civilised nations protect lives and property and punish those who violate them. Nigeria must, as a matter of urgency, enforce its Constitution and penal laws to defend Idoma land and its peaceful, law-abiding people,” the lawyers added.
Describing the losses suffered by farmers and residents in Benue South Senatorial District (Zone C) as monumental, the association called on relevant federal agencies to assess the damage and ensure adequate compensation for victims.
The lawyers also referenced international efforts against terrorism, noting that foreign military interventions had provided relief in some parts of the country.
“We are aware of international military support that has helped communities in the North-West and North-East. We also note offers of assistance in the broader fight against terrorism,” they said.
Recalling earlier large-scale attacks on Agatu Local Government Area, the association said the devastation had not received adequate attention.
“They have suffered killings, rape, arson, poisoning of streams, destruction of aquatic life, and the systematic destruction of crops and economic trees. These acts have often been under-reported,” the statement said.
Calling for urgent action, the lawyers stressed the fundamental nature of the right to life.
“We have a right to life as guaranteed by Section 33 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). Our lives matter,” they concluded.
