Comrade Daniel Onjeh, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Benue South Senatorial District in the 2023 elections, has called on the Benue State Government to immediately close the Ade-Igwu \u00a0trailer park in Orokam, Ogbadibo Local Government Area.<\/p>\n
He described it as a safe hideout for criminals.<\/p>\n
In a statement issued on Friday, Onjeh said the park has become a sanctuary for Fulani bandits, kidnappers and other criminal gangs who fled from the South East and North Central following recent security crackdowns.<\/p>\n
\u201cKillings and kidnappings in Orokam have worsened. Even those who avoid the dangerous roads are followed to their homes by suspected Fulani bandits. some are kidnapped, others killed in cold blood.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust last night, these criminals, with help from local collaborators, murdered Mrs. Anthonia Adah Adejo, an elderly woman who was seriously ill, and her son, Shaibu Gabriel Adejo, who had come from Abuja to take her for medical treatment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Onjeh said the wave of attacks has left Orokam residents living in fear.<\/p>\n
He cited intelligence and residents\u2019 accounts linking the Ade-Igwu Trailer Park to bandit activities.<\/p>\n
He described it as a base where criminals hide weapons, store drugs, and plan attacks while posing as traders or drivers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe trailer park has become a monster beyond the control of its operators. It is now a hideout for bandits, kidnappers, and criminals who store weapons and engage in immoral activities. The only real solution is to shut it down completely and demolish the structures criminals use as shelter. Once it\u2019s closed, peace will return to Ogbadibo,\u201d Onjeh revealed.<\/p>\n
He stressed that while the park may have economic value, the safety of the people comes first.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe threat it poses far outweighs whatever money it brings in. The people of Orokam and security personnel stationed there possess actionable intelligence to confirm that the park is used as an armoury, haven, and operational base for bandits and kidnappers,\u201d he reiterated.<\/p>\n
He further remarked that the DSS and the Nigeria Police Force cannot claim ignorance of the park\u2019s role as a den of criminals unless they are neglecting their constitutional duties.<\/p>\n
Comrade Onjeh, former PRODA Enugu chairman, said insecurity in Ogbadibo has worsened since President Tinubu\u2019s visit to Benue and the subsequent security crackdown, especially around the Ade-Igwu frailer park.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe park is an open zone where anyone, including criminals, can walk in and find shelter. It is a major threat to Ogbadibo and the state. Bandits from the South East and North Central hide there to escape justice,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Onjeh also alleged that the park is fueling moral decay in nearby communities and said fear of reprisals keeps many residents, including traditional leaders, from speaking out.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the park is closed, collaborators will be exposed, illicit activities like prostitution will stop, and peace will return,\u201d he added,<\/p>\n
He urged security agencies to clear all bandit hideouts, including the park, not just the forests.<\/p>\n
Onjeh warned that keeping the Ade-Igwu trailer park open would allow criminals to keep terrorising Orokam and embolden their local allies.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight now, no prominent son of Orokam can return home safely, and even their families are at risk. Only VIPs with heavy security dare visit,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He added that the once peaceful town is now like a ghost town.<\/p>\n
He cautioned against opportunistic politicians exploiting the crisis for political gain and urged residents to stay united until the insecurity is defeated.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe only lasting solution is to shut down the park. Once it\u2019s gone, the criminals will lose their base, and our people can expose their collaborators,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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