A Bar Leader and human rights lawyer, Mr. Marvin Ibem has sent a Save-Our-Soul message over herder killings in Umogidi Entekpa Ward of Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.

In a press statement made available to CITY LAWYER, the former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch Publicity Secretary said that “This attack is carefully orchestrated and constitutes an existential threat to my people. It is a strategy by the attackers to take over our ancestral home by strangers but we will never succumb.”

CITY LAWYER recalls that Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has been lamenting herder attacks in some parts of the state.

Below is the full text of the statement.

PRESS RELEASE ON THE KILLINGS OF THE PEOPLE OF UMOGIDI ENTEKPA WARD OF OTUKPO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BENUE STATE BY HERDERS.

Gentlemen of the press,

It is a sad day for me and my entire community of Umogidi, Entekpa Ward of Adoka district of Otukpo Local Government Area, Benue State which was invaded by herders yesterday the 5th day of April, 2023 wherein many people were killed.

In recent time, the herders took over the farmlands of my people and uprooted Yams, Cassava and other produce to feed their Cattles. This made the helpless villagers to abandon their ancestral farmlands for the safety of their lives.

Events however, took a different dimension yesterday the 5th April, 2023 as the killers invaded my village and killed innocent villagers and farmers unprovoked.

The last count of the victims were more than 47 bodies and more bodies are being recovered as at press time.

It is a disaster and personal loss to me as most of the victims are either related to me or are well known to me.

This carnage is under reported and I will like to use this medium to call on all relevant authorities to act fast and save my people.

We are a peaceful and law abiding people and will not contemplate taking laws into our hands.

This attack is carefully orchestrated and constitutes an existential threat to my people. It is a strategy by the attackers to take over our ancestral home by strangers but we will never succumb.

As we mourn the departed in our community, we call for the support of all well meaning Nigerians in prayers for the repose of their souls.

Signed:

Marvin Ibem, Esq .
Publicity Secretary,
Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja Branch 2020-2022

To join our Telegram platform, please click here 

COPYRIGHT 2022 CITY LAWYER. Please send emails to citylawyermag@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook at https://web.facebook.com/City-Lawyer-Magazine-434937936684320 and on TWITTER at https://twitter.com/CityLawyerMag. To ADVERTISE in CITY LAWYER, please email citylawyermag@gmail.com or call 08138380083.

All materials available on this Website are protected by copyright, trade mark and other proprietary and intellectual property laws. You may not use any of our intellectual property rights without our express written consent or attribution to www.citylawyermag.com. However, you are permitted to print or save to your individual PC, tablet or storage extracts from this Website for your own personal non-commercial use.