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 trailer park in Orokam, Ogbadibo Local Government Area.
He described it as a safe hideout for criminals.
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.
“Killings 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.
“Just 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.”
Onjeh said the wave of attacks has left Orokam residents living in fear.
He cited intelligence and residents’ accounts linking the Ade-Igwu Trailer Park to bandit activities.
He described it as a base where criminals hide weapons, store drugs, and plan attacks while posing as traders or drivers.
“The 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’s closed, peace will return to Ogbadibo,” Onjeh revealed.
He stressed that while the park may have economic value, the safety of the people comes first.
“The 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,” he reiterated.
He further remarked that the DSS and the Nigeria Police Force cannot claim ignorance of the park’s role as a den of criminals unless they are neglecting their constitutional duties.
Comrade Onjeh, former PRODA Enugu chairman, said insecurity in Ogbadibo has worsened since President Tinubu’s visit to Benue and the subsequent security crackdown, especially around the Ade-Igwu frailer park.
“The 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,” he said.
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.
“If the park is closed, collaborators will be exposed, illicit activities like prostitution will stop, and peace will return,” he added,
He urged security agencies to clear all bandit hideouts, including the park, not just the forests.
Onjeh warned that keeping the Ade-Igwu trailer park open would allow criminals to keep terrorising Orokam and embolden their local allies.
“Right now, no prominent son of Orokam can return home safely, and even their families are at risk. Only VIPs with heavy security dare visit,” he said.
He added that the once peaceful town is now like a ghost town.
He cautioned against opportunistic politicians exploiting the crisis for political gain and urged residents to stay united until the insecurity is defeated.
“The only lasting solution is to shut down the park. Once it’s gone, the criminals will lose their base, and our people can expose their collaborators,” he said.
