MDA Condemns Attacks on Kinsmen in Benue, Taraba Border Communities, Demands Security Deployment

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

A non-political organisation, the Mbajir Development Association (MDA), Makurdi Chapter, has denounced the recent invasion and attacks on Mbajir District in both Benue and Taraba States by bandits, urging the Federal Government to deploy security forces to safeguard their people.

The position was made known in a statement signed by the President and Secretary of the association, Elder Aondo Sai and Emmanuel Aondover, and made available to newsmen in Makurdi on Saturday.
According to the association, the statement followed persistent attacks on Tiv communities along the Taraba–Benue border in Katsina Ala Local Government Area, which have led to tragic loss of lives, destruction of property, and the mass displacement of residents.
The MDA stated that the heinous and barbaric assaults have forced innocent inhabitants of Mbajir to abandon their ancestral homes and seek refuge in neighbouring communities such as Sai, Abako, Peva, and other parts of the states.
It lamented that while fleeing to safety, displaced persons have been subjected to extremely distressing and inhumane living conditions.
The MDA President said, “It is particularly alarming that these attacks occurred without any visible security presence to safeguard lives and property.”
He described the killings as “senseless acts of violence” against peaceful and law-abiding citizens, stressing that the continued exposure of their communities to such attacks is unacceptable and requires urgent government intervention.
The association reiterated an earlier appeal by the Catholic Priest of Jalingo and Wukari Dioceses to the Federal Government, the Benue and Taraba State Governments, and the Chairmen of Katsina-Ala, Takum, Donga, and Wukari Local Government Areas to, as a matter of urgency, deploy adequate security personnel to Mbajir District to restore peace, prevent further attacks, and ensure the protection of lives and property.
Sai also appealed to the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to provide relief materials and humanitarian assistance to internally displaced persons currently taking refuge in Sai, Abako, Peva, and other parts of the states.
The association further called for a comprehensive investigation to identify, apprehend, and prosecute those responsible for the atrocities.
It expressed condolences to families who lost their loved ones and reaffirmed solidarity with displaced persons.
The MDA urged all stakeholders to act swiftly to prevent further bloodshed and avert a deepening humanitarian crisis in Mbajir District across Taraba and Benue States, emphasising that the safety, dignity, and fundamental rights of the people must be protected.