ABUJA
Hon. Blessing Onuh, who represents Otukpo-Ohimini Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has voiced concerns over the increasing security issues in her area and is urging the federal government to take swift action.
On Tuesday, during an interview with reporters in Abuja, the lawmaker—who served two terms—expressed deep concern over the continuous assaults and murders occurring in Otukpo, Benue State. He characterized this predicament as a nationwide crisis demanding urgent action.
She urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to instruct security forces to step up their attempts at capturing those responsible, ensuring they face legal consequences, and reinstating tranquility within the impacted areas.
“The violence in my constituency has escalated to an unacceptable degree over the past few weeks. Each day brings news of the arbitrary killing of unarmed individuals, and disturbingly, this seems to be becoming routine,” Onuh declared.
She voiced her irritation about what she saw as the lack of effective response from security organizations. She pointed out that following every assault, representatives from various governmental tiers—state and local alike—would only release declarations asserting their control over matters without implementing tangible measures afterward.
“I am puzzled as to why individuals continue to be murdered and abducted with such frequency, without any repercussions for those responsible. Following each assault, the authorities in Makurdi and Otukpo assure us that they have ‘the situation under control,’ yet circumstances remain unchanged. Bereaved families grieve their losses, go back home, and prepare themselves for potential future attacks by alleged herders,” she said additionally.
Providing chilling accounts of recent incidents, Onuh disclosed that just a day prior, a retired customs officer, Mr. Onche Akatu, was brutally killed in Asa 2 community, Otukpo Local Government Area, and two members of his family were abducted.
“The hardest thing to bear is that two relatives were abducted following his horrific killing. Would the deceased have to come back just to pay the ransom for their liberation? It breaks my heart,” she mourned.
Similarly, she recounted the case of Mrs. Felicia Ochigbo, a nursing mother who was slaughtered in the Old NTA Area of Asa community, and the recent murder of another resident, an Igbo man.“ Last month in Okpomoju Community in Okete Ward of Otukpo Local Government Atea Suspected herdsmen killed five men causing extreme grief. These herdsmen according to community sources are even threatening people with phone calls. As I speak to you now people are running away from their communities without even knowing if where they are going to is even safe”“Are these killers above the law? Why is it so difficult to apprehend them and restore peace so that our people can sleep with their two eyes closed?” she queried.
The legislator likewise voiced worries about the severe repercussions stemming from ongoing assaults, pointing out that the dread of brutality has compelled numerous farmers to forsake their fields, thereby exacerbating food scarcity in the area.
In her appeal to voters, especially young people, Onuh cautioned against turning to vigilante actions or retaliatory assaults, stressing that attempting to administer justice themselves would merely intensify the situation.
She pledged to the community that she would collaborate closely with political figures and security organizations to eradicate the terrible crimes afflicting her constituency.
“I will interact with political figures and security leaders to guarantee that these crimes cease. The citizens of our nation deserve to experience tranquility,” she vowed.
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