The stakeholders of Bunuland in Kabba/Bunu local government in Kogi state say that incessant bandits’ attack have killed 30 residents and sacked 21 villages ,with over 50 residents still under captivity.
The leaders of the community group under the aegis of Bunu Development Association (BDA) disclosed this to newsmen yesterday in an interaction in Lokoja .
The community leaders attributed the incidents to the incessant attacks of gun wielding hoodlums, whom they claimed had laid siege on the community for months .
The BDA president stated that the situation that started with sporadic attacks initially had evolved into sustained violence marked by killings, kidnappings, terror raids and forced displacement of innocent citizens of the community .
He added that the attacks had left the people to lose their everything, including their security, dignity, livelihood,culture and future .
“Entire villages are gradually emptying; this is no longer a local problem. It’s a humanitarian emergency and a threat to community survival.
“Residents of 21 out of 38 communities have deserted their ancestral land/ towns ; 30 of the residents have lost their lives; and over 51 of our residents are still under captivity, with 37 worshipers abducted at ECWA Church recently at Ayetoro Kiri topping the list”.
“Farmers cannot access their farms, our people have deserted their ancestral land, and foreigners have taken over the farms , cultivating crops, and selling their produce to us . We need intervention of all”, he said .
“People should come to our aide, residents are relocating unrestricted, our children have abandoned schools. We cannot have a peaceful living so far our children,less than 8years old, and our elders, above 80 years old are still in the bush “, said Aledara .
Among others ,the leaders noted that residents in such settlements like Odo-Ape, Agadalepa, Oniriba, Àyetoro-Kiri, Ole , Ibori-Eni, and Idaka have deserted their villages ,courtesy of the bandits attacks.
