- Shot Civil Defence Officer Hospitalised
By Amos Aar
THE CATHOLIC Diocese of Makurdi has abruptly shut down its boarding secondary school, Angus Frazer Memorial High School located within Makurdi, Benue State capital, following attack on the school by armed bandits suspected to be herdsmen.
A statement to this effect, signed by the Director of Social Communications of the Diocese, Very Rev. Fr. Moses Iorapuu, dated May 8, 2024, said “gunmen had gained access to the school in the late hours of Tuesday, 7th May, shooting indiscriminately while the learners were asleep.”
Fr. Iorapuu stated that “for the professional handling of the situation by the principal and a team of civil defence officers who repelled the attack, the situation would have been catastrophic.”
He revealed that one of the civil defence officers was shot and is receiving treatment.
According to Fr. Iorapuu, the decision to suspend activities in the school “was a pre-emptive measure to ensure the safety of our children and avoid what would have been an unimaginable disaster.”
The statement reads in part: “At a meeting called by Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of Makurdi Diocese his consultors [sic], the education team, and the management of the Via Christi Society unanimously agreed that the lives of the children be considered above any other consideration in this case.
ALSO READ:
FG Expresses Commitment To Improve Pension Management, Welfare Of Pensioners
Why Rivers Lawmakers Can’t Impeach Fubara, Says PDP, As ALGON Backs Move
CAC Inaugurates Centre For Registration Of Pos Operators
Cybersecurity Levy: TUC Threatens Shutdown Of Economy
“The Director of Catholic Education Services was also mandated to reach out to the relevant stakeholders.
“Fr. Angus Frazer Memorial High School is located along Welfare Quarters at Utuur Layout, Phase 3 Makurdi, the Benue state capital. This part of the town has become notorious for killings and kidnappings by suspected herdsmen.
“The Diocese has also directed priests and those in pastoral units to tighten security around their premises and appealed to authorities to ensure the safety of life and property of the citizens”.
National Record has observed that there has been public outcry by Makurdi residents and those in various local government areas of the state over increased influx of armed herders into their areas.
The influx has incidentally corresponded with increase of alleged attacks and killings in several communities as well as destruction of farms with seemingly feeble response from state authorities. This is despite the expiration of a 2-week ultimatum given by the state government sometime in February 2024 to armed herders to exit the state.
The ultimatum elapsed on March 7, 2024 but without a corresponding enforcement by the state government through security agencies.
National Record has also reliably gathered that apart from the secondary school and surrounding areas of Phase 3 where the suspected herders struck on Tuesday, the armed herders were alleged to have occupied other strategic areas within Makurdi such as surrounding areas of 72 Barracks, Abinsi-Angbaaye area along Makurdi-Gboko Road, UNIAGRIC area amongst others.
Feelers from several local government areas of both Tiv and Idoma-speaking communities indicate that the insecurity situation is worse with complaints of herdsmen influx followed by attacks.
Sources confided in National Record that more than ever before, residents have, for fear of herders attacks, been unable to move about freely let alone go their farms.
