Residents raise alarm over imminent security threat in Benue
The people of Onyagede in Ohimini Local Government Area in Benue State are calling on the military, the police and other security agencies to move swiftly and avert imminent danger following helicopter droppings of strange men seen in military uniform.
According to the District Head of Oyangede community, Chief Adamu Ogli, who narrated that one helicopter has, in the last five days, been dropping men in uniform at Amoke Primary School ground, said the uniformed men looked suspicious as many of them wore bathroom sleepers and looked unkempt.
He explained that the entire community is worried about what will happen in the coming days as most residents now live in fear, hence they are calling for a quick response to identify the men in uniform and ascertain if truly they are soldiers because of their appearance they do not look like Nigerian soldiers.
These worries are coming after some communities in the state recently came under heavy attack by suspected armed men as property worth millions of naira was destroyed, including foodstuff warehouses with the inhabitants killed and others displaced.
Speaking to our correspondent on phone, Chief Ogli said “For about five days, there is this helicopter that used to come and it will land in Amoke village, in Onyagede community of Ohimini LGA, Amoke primary school to be precise, and the people around there are apprehensive and we don’t know their mission there.
“People who saw them said they will come and drop off people who are dressed in military uniform. That is the report I’m getting and we want security agencies and the state government to act on it urgently to prevent any unforeseen circumstance that may arise and further escalated the security problem in our area.
“We are suspicious of their moves because they have not approached anyone concerning their mission but the helicopter will come around 10 to 11 am and drop them off and go back and the following day, it will come by the same time, drop and go. We don’t know what is happening or what they are looking for and that is why we are raising this alarm.”
He said they have reported to the police and expressed the hope that they will quickly comb the place to unravel the mystery.
Also speaking, a former council Chairman of Ohimini, Mr Musa Alechenu, also told our correspondent that on Friday alone, the helicopter landed three times after which a retired soldier in the community noted that they are not soldiers. “I was told they were on slippers and there was no ranking or markings on their uniforms.
“I also heard they came to our market to withdraw money. Our people suspect that they are mapping out a place for attack because of what happened in Doma LGA of Nasarawa State. We are raising this alarm so that the security agencies will know and move in to avert any imminent danger,” Alechenu said.
Meanwhile, the Kindred head of Amoke, Chief Emmanuel Adah, also confirmed that as of Saturday, the helicopter hovered around Amoke but didn’t land.
“Our people who were on the farm took to their heels on seeing the helicopter. These are not good times because of the insecurity we are experiencing. Our people are apprehensive that they might be attacked.
“We want the government to confirm who is hovering over us and why so that we are sure that we are safe,” Adah appealed.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), Benue Command, SP Catherine Anene, said they are yet to receive any intelligence from the local government.
In a telephone conversation, Anene said, “The Division has not sent any intelligence on any danger in the area.”
(TNT)
