Kogi attack: Community leader urges NEMA, SEMA to assist IDPs with relief materials

By Victoria Nnakaike

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and Kogi State State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has been called upon to assist the displaced persons of Agojeju-Odo community in Omala local government area with relief materials.

Thomas Acheneje made the call while speaking with journalists in Lokoja.

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Agojeju-Odo community in Omala LGA of Kogi was on April 4 attacked by bandits, leaving 25 dead and several others injured.

The bandits sacked the entire inhabitants of the community who are now taking refuge in neighbouring communities.

Acheneje said that since that April 4, the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have been encountering untold hardships due to lack of food, drinking water and conducive places to stay.

“Our people are living in terrible conditions. This is why as a community leader; I am pleading with NEMA and SEMA to consider it necessary and expedient to take some relief materials to them.

“Most of these IDPs are taking refuge in primary schools, Mosques and churches with little or nothing to cater for themselves.

“The painful thing is that the bandits stocked food stuffs including Maize, Yams, Cassava and Beans.”

The community leader expressed worry over likely disease outbreak in some of the crowded IDP camps and the houses of relatives and friends they are camping with.

“As members of the affected community, we have been trying our best to assist our people, but the situation has overwhelmed us,” he said.

Acheneje commended Gov. Usman Ododo’s recent proclamation that some suspected bandits have been arrested, as he called for more arrests, the establishment of a military base at Agojeju-Odo, a border community between Benue and Kogi to checkmate the incessant attacks in the area.

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In his response, Segun Joseph, State Commissioner for Environment, said that the government has planned to send relief materials through SEMA to the affected communities in Omala LGA.

He said: “We are aware of the plight of the displaced persons in Agojeju-Odo and Abejukolo communities and will, by God’s grace, reach out to them by Friday with some relief materials.

“Governor Usman Ododo’s administration is a caring one and won’t abandon its citizens for no just cause”.