Benue: Group condemns invasion of Ipole community by armed youths, demands probe of Area Commander, Ogenyi

 From Attah Ede, Makurdi 

Youths group under the auspices of Otukpo Youth Patriot  Forum(OYPF), on Thursday, condemned in totality the alleged invasion of Efeyi Ipole, community in Ugboju,  Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State by some persons, believed to be from neighbouring communities in Ohimini LGA.

The group however, accused the police commander, police area command Otukpo, David Ogenyi for his alleged role during the invasion and called on Benue State commissioner of police, to immediately investigate the incident .

The President of Otukpo Youth Patriot and his Secretary,, Ejelikwu Adakole and James Iduh, in a statement signed and issued to newsmen in Makurdi alleged that over 20 youths heavily armed with dangerous weapons with the backing of the Area Commander in Otukpo, David Ogenyi, invaded the Efeyi Ipole community to capture some people.

According to the statement, the invaders  stormed  Efeyi Ipole at about 1:00 am on Friday,June 21th, with the intention to apprehend some persons suspected to be the killers of late Chief Sunday Okpe in Amla-Icho, also in Otukpo Local Government Area who was murdered recently.

They gave the names of the invaders who were from Akpachi, Otukpo-Nobi, Ohimini, Ugboju and Amla-Icho included; Ogli Andrew, Papa Andrew, Sunday Ega, Anyebe Ogbu, Sunday Ikwulono, Akoja Sunday and  Alechenu support.

Others were, Inalegwu Samuel, Oche Inalegwu, Egboche Enokela, Odeh Igoh, Obochi Ejeh, Oche Audu, and Oije Audu, Olemi Oche, as well as Bonny Ogolekwu, Echobu Aja and Saadi Owoicho.

The group said that, despite the fact that they do not support crime and any act that could undermine peace in the society, wondered why the area commander of police would allegedly deploy armed persons, non police personnel to Efeyi Ipole to  carry out operations in such hours of the night.

The statement reads in part: “We are deeply worried about the unwholesome tendencies of some youths who made a deadly voyage into Efeyi Ipole, a peaceful community in Ugboju in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue state at the wee hours of Friday, June 21, 2024. 

“The youths who were over 20 and heavily armed with dangerous weapons and alleged to have the backing of the Area Commander in Otukpo, David Ogenyi, 

Luck however ran out of them as the vigilant youths of Efeyi Ipole called their bluff and demanded to know why they chose to invade their community at such unholy hours of the night with dangerous weapons.

“About 18 of them were arrested by the Efeyi Ipole youths while those with dangerous weapons escaped. 

The 18 that were arrested confessed in videos/audios at the disposal of OYPF that they were sent by the Area Commander in Otukpo to carry out the mission. 

“The 18 arrested persons were later released to the Divisional Police Officer, DPO in Ogoli-Ugboju who later arrived at the scene and demanded that they be handed over to him. We gathered that those who escaped from the  hands of the local security, contacted the Area Commander in Otukpo who in turn ordered the DPO in Ogoli-Ugboju to secure the release of those apprehended by our boys.

“The situation would have degenerated into a serious blood bath had the elders and youths of Efeyi Ipole not handled it with caution.

” We call on the Commissioner of Police in the State to investigate the incident in Efeyi Ipole and arrest the errant youths who invaded the sleepy community on Friday, June 21,2024.

“Furthermore, we urge Otukpo youths, political leaders, the clergy as well as traditional rulers and men and women of good intentions to rise against repressive agenda capable of sticking to the crisis resulting in further loss of lives and properties” it stated.

Reacting to the allegations, the police commander, Otukpo area command, David Ogenyi described the allegations as unfounded and the most unfortunate thing to say.

Ogenyi said he had enough policemen in the office and cannot use civilians/youths to go and invade a village for any reason in the world.

He said the entire scenario was a conspiracy stage managed to score cheap goals and “I think this must have to stop.

“It’s very important also, that the sponsors of this campaign of calumny must know that I can’t descend so low to concede to their demands to run the Police Area Command Otukpo as it was the case before I assume duty” he stressed.