By Stephen Adeleye
Dekina (Kogi), July 15, 2023
A non-governmental organization (NGO), AbaraCare, has donated relief materials to communities attacked by herdsmen in Aloko and Edede communities in Oganenigu, Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State.
It would be recalled that some fulani herdemen had on April 2, 2023, allegedly attacked Aloko and Edede communities in Oganenigu, killing APC ward Chairman, Jacob Wodi and eight others, while over 50 houses, cars, motorcycles and other properties were burnt down.
Speaking at the community on Friday, the Country Director of AbaraCare, Pastor James Odiba, said the gesture was part of the organisation’s humanitarian services to provide succur to victims of herdsmen attack in the affected communities.
According to Odiba, AbaraCare is a United States non profit organisation, aimed at providing access to affordable healthcare, disaster relief and poverty alleviation.
“We are here to share our little token of relief to members of Aloko community as part of our mandates, show our concerns, and sympathize with them. The same gesture will also be extended to Edede community who was also affected.
“We pray that God will grant peace, and that there should be peace in our communities
He encouraged public spirited individuals, organisations and government agencies especially National Emergency Manager Agency (NEMA) and SEMA to come to the aid of the people, saying they were really suffering.
“The communities need governments’ intervention in terms of welfare, and good access roads being an agrarian communities because there are lots of resources here.
“We saw several trucks loaded with Coals and others with quality timbers as well as cashews with many land to be cultivated.
“We have brought them little relief items worth over a million naira such as indomie noodles, seasonings, salt, buckets, mattresses, among others,” Odiba said.
In their separate remarks the Leaders of Aloko and Edede communities, Mr Atabo Okpachi and Mr Stephen Epah respectively, commended the NGO for the gesture.
They stressed that it would go a long way to alleviate the suffering of their people and cushion the devastating effects of herdsmen attack on their communities.
They, however decried the inability of the State and Federal Governments to come to their aids since the attack occurred on April 2.
“We felt very disappointed and neglected that no form of intervention, palliatives and assistance has come from either state, federal governments or their agencies since the attack.
“The state government through the Deputy Governor only came for assessment but up till now nothing has been done to help our people.
“We are appealing to the state, federal governments and their humanitarian agencies to urgently come to our aid because our people are suffering,” Okpachi said.
“Our houses were burnt down and our properties destroyed. Majority of our people that ran away are yet to come back because no where to stay.
“We are pleading with the governments and other NGOs to come and help us because we are really suffering,” Epah said.
End