Months after deadly attacks claimed scores of lives and forced thousands of residents to flee their homes in Odeni Gida Ward of Udege Development Area, Nasarawa Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, fresh concerns have emerged over allegations that some of the communities deserted during the violence are now being occupied by individuals linked to the attacks.
The attacks, which affected several communities across the area, reportedly left more than 80 people dead, destroyed homes and farmlands, displaced families, and caused property losses estimated at hundreds of millions of naira.
While survivors continue to grapple with the aftermath of the violence, many residents say a new and troubling dimension has emerged, with fears that the abandoned settlements may be undergoing a gradual occupation by those accused of carrying out the attacks.
Residents Reject ‘Communal Clash’ Description
From the onset of the crisis, many community members strongly opposed descriptions of the violence as a communal clash, insisting that the attacks were coordinated assaults carried out by heavily armed men who struck multiple communities simultaneously.
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Residents argued that the classification of the incident as communal unrest diminishes the scale of the tragedy and could affect efforts to secure justice, compensation and accountability for victims.
For many survivors, the debate over terminology has become a central issue, with concerns that the narrative surrounding the attacks could influence future decisions regarding displaced persons and ownership of ancestral lands.
Fresh Allegations Surface
According to residents, concerns intensified following a recent visit to the affected communities by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Special Assistant on Community Engagement, Dr. Abiodun Essiet.
Community members claim that several villages remain largely deserted as many displaced residents have yet to return due to persistent insecurity and fears of renewed attacks.
Some residents further alleged that individuals identified by locals as participants in the attacks have been seen grazing cattle openly within the abandoned communities.
The allegations have heightened fears among displaced families, many of whom now believe the violence may have extended beyond reprisal attacks to include attempts at territorial occupation.
“The attackers have now taken over the very communities they displaced. That tells you this was never just a clash. It was a conquest,” one resident was quoted as saying.
Images and videos circulating on social media reportedly show families fleeing affected communities with their belongings as they sought refuge in neighbouring settlements.
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Concerns Over Justice and Accountability
Affected residents say they are increasingly worried that public attention to the tragedy is fading despite continued reports of insecurity in the area.
Some community members have criticised reconciliation efforts undertaken after the attacks, arguing that certain meetings may have prematurely projected the crisis as resolved while many victims remained displaced.
Questions have also been raised over relief efforts, with some residents alleging that aid distribution processes blurred distinctions between victims and those accused of participating in the violence.
Community leaders acknowledged that peace meetings were held involving affected communities and Fulani representatives, but residents say little information has emerged regarding the implementation of agreements reached during those engagements.
Meanwhile, reports of attacks on farmers and insecurity around farmlands have continued to surface, raising concerns about the sustainability of any peace process.
Analyst Challenges Official Narrative
Public affairs commentator Yahaya Kana Ismaila has been among the voices questioning descriptions of the violence as communal conflict.
According to him, the affected Eloyi communities do not share ethnic affiliations or territorial claims with the armed men accused of carrying out the attacks, making the communal conflict narrative difficult to sustain.
Kana argued that the attackers reportedly arrived in large numbers, wielding sophisticated weapons and launching simultaneous assaults on multiple settlements before burning homes and forcing residents to flee.
He warned that the continued absence of arrests or prosecutions risks deepening feelings of injustice among survivors.
“Despite reports that more than 70 people lost their lives, no suspect had been arrested at the time of my reaction. That raises serious concerns about justice and protection for vulnerable communities,” he said.