The lawmaker representing Otukpo–Ohimini Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Blessing Onuh, has cried out over the escalating wave of killings, kidnappings, and destruction of farmlands by suspected herders in her constituency, describing the situation as a national emergency requiring urgent federal intervention.
Speaking with journalists on Wednesday in Abuja, the visibly distraught two-term legislator lamented that despite her repeated motions on insecurity in the area, little has been done to provide lasting relief to the people.
“I am really pained and frustrated. How can I continue to move motions on insecurity without sustained response? Whenever I cry, they respond, but soon they retreat and then more gruesome attacks occur,” she said.
Onuh revealed that she has spent large sums of personal funds paying medical bills and funeral expenses for victims of the attacks, which she described as relentless and worsening.
According to her, on Sunday, November 9, 2025, four people were abducted in Asa Village, Otukpo Local Government Area, while eleven more were kidnapped in Akpegede Village just two days later, on Tuesday, November 11.
She expressed deep frustration that the perpetrators operate openly from camps within Otukpo, with security agencies allegedly aware of their locations.
“The most painful aspect is that the camp of these criminals is in Otukpo. All the security agencies are aware of it. They are there in their numbers with arms and ammunition,” she said.
Narrating a recent tragedy, Onuh recounted that on November 3, three villagers Pastor Simon Nkpachi, Inalegwu, and John Ejeh Ijegwa went missing after going to their farms. Later that day, the body of Pastor Nkpachi was found with machete wounds, while Inalegwu’s corpse was discovered the following day.
Before the community could recover from the shock, another attack occurred on November 4, leaving four more residents Stephen Ajeibi, Titus Ejeh (a blind man), Ekoja Gabriel, and Samuel Peter dead, with houses, food barns, and farmlands burnt to ashes.
“Up till now, the body of John Ejeh Ijegwa, popularly known as Dealer and an APC community leader, is still missing. Fear has not allowed anyone to enter the bush to search for his body,” she added.
In all, seven people were killed, with six bodies recovered and deposited at the Federal University Hospital, Otukpo mortuary, awaiting burial on Thursday, November 13, 2025.
Onuh appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct the new Service Chiefs and security agencies to intensify efforts toward apprehending the perpetrators and restoring peace to the affected communities.
“The killings in my constituency have reached an outrageous level. Every day, we witness the senseless murder of innocent people, and tragically, it is beginning to feel as though it is normal,” she lamented.
The lawmaker condemned what she described as “cosmetic responses” by some state and local officials who issue statements after each attack but fail to follow up with concrete actions.
“Are these killers above the law? Why is it so difficult to apprehend them and restore peace so our people can sleep with their two eyes closed?” she queried.
Onuh also warned that persistent attacks have forced farmers to abandon their farmlands, worsening food insecurity in the region.
While appealing to youths in the affected communities to avoid reprisal attacks, she pledged to continue engaging political stakeholders and security heads to bring an end to the killings.
“I will engage with political stakeholders and security heads to ensure these atrocities come to an end. Our people deserve to live in peace,” she assured.
