Idoma Association USA Urges President Tinubu for Urgent Action on Benue South Killings

The Idoma Association USA has issued a strongly worded open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, warning that the continued wave of killings in Benue South should not be mistaken for weakness. The group expressed deep frustration over repeated attacks on Idoma communities, particularly the latest assaults on Akpachi village in Ugboju and communities in Otukpo Local Government Area on July 11 and 12, which reportedly claimed at least 20 lives.

In the letter, the association detailed how communities in Agatu, Apa, Otukpo, Ohimini, Okpokwu, Ado, Obi, and Oju have endured over a decade of violent assaults by suspected armed herdsmen, resulting in hundreds of deaths, thousands displaced, and widespread destruction of livelihoods. The group alleged that the recent attacks could have been prevented, claiming that the Och’Idoma had received prior intelligence about the planned invasions and promptly alerted security agencies, only for the warnings to be allegedly ignored.

The diaspora organisation emphasised that expressions of sympathy and symbolic visits are no longer sufficient. “Our people need more than statements and symbolic visits. They need decisive action. The repeated attacks on innocent citizens cannot continue to be met with condolences after the fact,” the letter stated. It urged President Tinubu to immediately deploy military and security personnel to vulnerable communities in Benue South, order a thorough investigation into the attacks, prosecute those responsible, investigate why actionable intelligence was ignored, establish permanent security outposts across vulnerable border communities, and provide humanitarian assistance to victims.

The association reminded the President that protecting the lives and property of citizens is a constitutional responsibility of government. “The Idoma people are bona fide citizens of this country, entitled to the same protection as any other Nigerian, yet for over a decade, our communities have been overrun, our farmers butchered in their fields, our women violated, our children orphaned, and our people displaced as refugees in their own land,” the letter declared. “The killers are not ghosts; they are armed men who operate with impunity, and no one is held accountable.”

While acknowledging Governor Hyacinth Alia’s visit to Otukpo, the group noted that the governor did not visit the actual sites of the killings. The letter concluded with a plea for justice and security: “We seek justice, we seek protection, we seek to live in peace on the land of our ancestors. These are not unreasonable demands; these are the minimum expectations as citizens.”

The open letter was jointly signed by the President of the Idoma Association USA, Prince Dr. Edwin Ochai, and the association’s Secretary, Chief Sylvester Onche Steno. Copies were sent to key government officials including the Vice President, National Security Adviser, Chief of Defence Staff, Inspector-General of Police, Governor of Benue State, and traditional leaders.

The association warned that continued inaction could have grave consequences and appealed to the President as the father of the nation to act decisively before desperation drives the people to undesirable outcomes.