Tension is mounting in Cross River State following a dramatic incident in which vigilant youths in Bekwarra Local Government Area successfully repelled an attempted infiltration by armed herders believed to be fleeing military operations in neighboring Benue State. The herders, reportedly armed and accompanied by cattle, were blocked from entering the area by determined local youths who stood their ground to protect their communities.
The incident was first brought to public attention through a viral video recorded by a concerned youth from Obudu LGA. Speaking in his native language, the young man issued a passionate warning to residents of Obudu, Obanliku, and other border communities, urging them to remain alert and proactive in securing their families, farmlands, and livelihoods. He emphasized the need for immediate grassroots action, especially as Fulani bandits who recently wreaked havoc in Benue are believed to be seeking new safe havens.
According to the video, the attempted incursion into Bekwarra is part of a larger pattern of movement by fleeing assailants in the wake of President Bola Tinubu’s directive to security forces to hunt down those responsible for the recent bloodshed in Benue, where dozens of lives were lost and entire villages destroyed.
Reacting to the youth’s call, Pastor Ambassador Commander Undie Ashibekong John, National Director for Prevention and Awareness of Human Rights Violations and the Cross River Coordinator of the International Organization for Human Right Development and Environment (IOHRDE), described the video as a wake-up call that must not be ignored. He urged community leaders, traditional rulers, security agencies, and government officials to mobilize immediately and strengthen local defenses.
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Amb. John stressed the importance of deploying community surveillance, securing border entry points, and supporting local forest security outfits like the Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS). He also called on philanthropists and private sector actors to assist with logistics, equipment, and funding to bolster grassroots security.
He warned that the violence of armed herders knows no political, ethnic, or religious boundaries, and urged citizens to set aside their differences for the sake of communal survival. “When bandits strike, they don’t ask for your party card or tribe, they come to kill, destroy, and displace. No condolence visit or presidential delegation can restore the lives lost or rebuild what’s been burned,” he said.
The development has sparked serious concern across the state, with calls for heightened vigilance spreading rapidly online. As Cross River faces increased pressure from potential threats along its borders, the courage and swift action of Bekwarra youths may serve as a crucial line of defense and a rallying cry for the rest of the state to prepare for what could come next.