Agonies Of Displaced Kogi Residents, Seek Govt’s Assistance To Return Home

By Ayodele Oni

It was tales of woes and lamentations from displaced people of Agojeju-Odo community in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi state as they could not return home after bandits attacked them.

They said the hope of returning to their birth place will depend on how government handles their case, pleading with the federal and state governments to assist them to return home.

The community was attacked last Thursday by suspected bandits, killing not less than 25 persons with unspecified numbered injured.

Some of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs),that spoke to News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) made the appeal at Bagaji-Odo community, their temporary place of abode.

Mrs Patience Akauwu, a 67-year old woman, said that life had become tough and hard for them, having lost their farm produce to the attackers.

“We have been displaced and suffering here in Bagaji-Odo due to lack of food and conducive place to stay.

“All we are asking for is the federal and state governments to assist in providing adequate security for us to return home.”

Also, Joshua Salifu, a farmer, said that his wife and children were still missing and pleaded with government to help find them.

According to him, when the bandits attacked the community between 3:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, everyone in the village began to run helter skelter

“At that time, we were running for our dear lives. I’m here in Bagaji-Odo not knowing where my wife and children are.

“I took part in the burial of the 25 persons killed, but my wife or any of my children was not among them.”

Salifu explained that he was afraid to go back to the village to search for his loved ones and was helpless

Another IDP, Paul Achabo, a farmer, begged the government to help set up military presence in Agojeju-Odo community, a border village between Benue and Kogi states.

Achabo stated that unless there was adequate security in the community, they could not go back for fear that the bandits might return.

He disclosed that all their foodstuffs such as yam, cassava, maize, cashew and beans were carted away by the bandits.

The District Head of Bagaji-Odo, Chief David Akpa, also pleaded with the government to assist the IDPs and the affected communities.

“This is because we don’t have the kind of sophisticated weapons the bandits have to face them.