Otukpo, Benue State – Amid growing concerns over relentless attacks in the Middle Belt, former Senate President David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark has issued a rallying cry for unity and resistance among the Idoma people, following the latest wave of violence that has left hundreds dead and thousands displaced across communities in Benue South.
Speaking during the Idoma Nation Peace and Unity Symposium held on April 21, 2025, at the Ochidoma’s Palace in Otukpo, David Mark—also revered with the traditional title Okpokpowulu K’Idoma (The Voice of the Idoma Nation)—urged his people to rise above internal divisions and face external threats with collective resolve.
> “The time for politics is over. This is about our survival as a people. We must stand as one to protect our land, our heritage, and our future,” Mark declared to resounding applause.
The Context: Violence and Displacement in Idoma Land
In recent months, Benue South Senatorial District, predominantly home to the Idoma and Igede people, has witnessed escalating attacks in communities such as Agatu, Apa, Ogbadibo, and Otukpo. According to Global Rights Nigeria, more than 350 people have been killed in the last 18 months, with over 40,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) recorded in the zone.
The attackers, often described as heavily armed militias or suspected herders, have razed farmlands, destroyed homes, and forced entire villages to flee. Despite military presence under Operation Whirl Stroke, locals report minimal intervention and delayed responses from security forces.
> “Our people are being pushed from their ancestral homes with impunity. This is not a clash—it’s a calculated invasion,” said Chief James Elaigwu Odogbo, the current Ochidoma and host of the symposium.
Historical Parallels and the Fight for Indigenous Rights
The Idoma people, Nigeria’s fifth largest ethnic group, have long maintained a distinct cultural identity in the Middle Belt, tracing their ancestral roots to the early migrations from the Kwararafa Confederacy. Their homelands in Benue State have historically served as a buffer between Northern expansionist movements and Southern communities.
However, the ongoing crisis threatens to uproot centuries of territorial settlement, raising fears of cultural erosion and demographic subjugation.
“This is how nations are erased—first their land, then their memory. We cannot allow this to happen to Idoma land,” said Dr. Maria Agbo, historian at Benue State University.
David Mark’s Legacy and Influence
David Mark, a retired military general and five-term senator, served as President of the Nigerian Senate from 2007 to 2015, making him one of the most enduring political figures in Nigerian history. As an Idoma son, he has been a symbol of pride and political weight for his people—championing infrastructure, peacebuilding, and military reform throughout his career.
His voice now adds urgency to the call for community vigilance, traditional cohesion, and coordinated defense, urging community leaders, youth groups, and religious institutions to close ranks and resist encroachment.
“Let no one deceive you. Our liberation will not come from outsiders. It will come from our unity,” Mark emphasized.
A Call for Solutions Beyond Politics
Participants at the symposium called for:
Community-based security networks, in line with constitutional rights to self-defense.
Federal investigation into the roots of the coordinated attacks.
Reparations and support for displaced families to rebuild and return.
Reinforcement of traditional leadership structures to promote unity and swift response to threats.
There was also a passionate call on the Federal Government to re-evaluate national security deployments, especially in rural areas, and to prosecute actors funding or enabling violent incursions.
Conclusion: A Land Worth Defending
As the sun set over the Ochidoma’s Palace in Otukpo, one message rang clear: the Idoma nation will not go quietly. With voices like David Mark at the helm, and a people deeply rooted in ancestral pride, the renewed call for unity marks a turning point in the Middle Belt’s long struggle for survival and justice.
The world must now listen—not only to the cries of the victims but to the resolve of a people determined to defend their land, their history, and their right to exist in peace.
Headlinenews.news Special Investigative Report.
