News Editor
From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi
The President and founder of Apa Legacy and Sustainability Initiatives, Dr David Olofu has called on Benue communities to deploy all lawful means in their efforts to fight against herdsmen menace in the State.
Dr Olofu made the call on Sunday June 22, 2025 when he paid a condolence visit Otobi community in Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA) of the state to commiserate with them on the attacks and killing of their kinsmen by suspected herdsmen terrorists recently.
Olofu who expressed sympathy with the people over the carnage called on Security agencies to put in more efforts in safeguarding the various communities in Benue State.
He encouraged Otobi youths not to despair or falter in the defence of their fathers land saying “We must team up as a people and endeavour to work together in unity in order to resolve this attack on our land.
“I am pained that we were attacked without provocation. People were needlessly killed. The lives lost cannot be replaced. And, that is why must do all within the arm bit of the law to protect ourselves from these ferocious marauders”, he said.
The former Commissioner of Finance in the state condemned the attacks and promised to help the affected people to rediscover their lives.
Olofu decried the spate of insecurity in the state particularly in Idoma land saying the various attacks have already impinged the productivity of the locals.
He called on both the State and Federal Governments to expeditiously rush to the rescue of all the affected areas by beefing up Security and providing support to enable them form the attacks.
Dr Olofu donated unspecified amount of money to the victims to help cushions the devastating effects of the attacks.
In his remarks, a community leader, Chief Abah Adaudu, Oyalewa K’Idoma, thanked Dr Olofu for the visit which he said was born out of humanism.
He said “Olofu is no longer in government but chooses to come down to us here to feel our pains and commiserate with us. We cannot thank him enough.
“You have challenged us to be our brother’s keepers in a time like this. It happened in your community and here you are to show empathy with us. This is what we didn’t do when it happened in your community and here you are showing us empathy. May God continue to bless you. We appreciate your kind gesture”, he enthused.
Speaking on behalf of the Otobi community, Chief Abel Egaji disclosed that the marauders came in a commando style and started firing sporadically on anything visible in the community.
According to him, “The attack led to the destruction of property and killing of our people numbering 11.
Dr Olofu was accompanied on the visit by retinue people from all walks of life.
