GHOST COMMUNITIES OF APA/AGATU: How years of herdsmen killings, government inaction emptied Benue border villages

For many residents of Apa Local Government Area in Benue State, fear has become a way of life. Entire communities that once bustled with farming activities, markets, schools and social gatherings are today deserted, with homes abandoned and farmlands overtaken by silence.

From Akpata, Akpete, Emana Ikobi, Ejaha Ikobi, Ikobi, Onyejecho and Edikwu Olijamu, down to Odejo, Odugbeho, Ogbaulu, Edikwu Ankpali, Okpogo, Atakpa, Olagbulu and Oshigbudu, communities sharing boundary with Agatu have gradually turned into ghost settlements following persistent attacks and threats linked to armed Fulani ethnic militia.

Residents say the latest security alert threatening fresh attacks on Oiji and Edikwu 1 only deepened an already existing atmosphere of panic across the troubled axis, IDOMA VOICE rerports.

For years, attacks, killings, kidnappings and destruction of farmlands have continued almost unchecked in the Apa-Agatu corridor, forcing thousands of residents to flee to safer communities.

Many displaced families now live in overcrowded settlements, depending on relatives and sympathisers for survival after abandoning their homes, farms and livelihoods.

Community members who spoke on condition of anonymity described a situation where people sleep with one eye open, uncertain of what the next night may bring.

According to them, several villages have suffered repeated invasions over the years, yet residents say little has changed in terms of permanent security presence or decisive government intervention.

“Our people have been running for years. Each time we hear rumours of attacks, everybody disappears because nobody wants to die,” a local resident said.

Another community leader lamented that farming activities, the major source of livelihood in the are, have nearly collapsed as many farmers can no longer safely access their lands.

The insecurity affecting Apa and neighbouring Agatu communities is not new. For years, border communities in the area have witnessed recurring violence that has claimed scores of lives and displaced many households.

Despite repeated promises by authorities, residents say the attacks often return after temporary calm, leaving communities trapped in a cycle of fear and displacement.

Locals accuse both state and federal authorities of failing to establish lasting security measures capable of ending the crisis permanently.

While security agencies occasionally deploy personnel after attacks, residents argue that such responses are usually reactive rather than preventive.

A visit to some affected areas reveals abandoned compounds, empty streets and silent marketplaces.

Schools in some communities reportedly struggle to function as families continue relocating to safer towns, while economic activities have drastically reduced.

Traditional rulers and stakeholders have repeatedly appealed for stronger security operations, including permanent military formations and improved surveillance across vulnerable border communities.

With more villages becoming deserted, concerns are rising over a looming humanitarian crisis in the area.

Displaced residents face hunger, poor shelter and uncertainty about their future, especially as the farming season approaches.

Many fear that continued insecurity could worsen food shortages and poverty across affected communities.

Residents and community leaders are now calling on both the Benue State Government and the Federal Government to take urgent and decisive action to prevent further attacks and restore confidence among the people.

They insist that without deliberate efforts to end the violence, more communities may eventually be abandoned.

For now, fear continues to hang heavily over Apa’s troubled border communitie, with many residents uncertain whether peace will ever truly return.