Months after deadly attacks on communities in Odeni Gida Ward of the Udege Development Area in Nasarawa State, many displaced residents say their ordeal is far from over, as fears grow that abandoned communities are gradually being occupied by those accused of carrying out the violence.
The attacks, which reportedly claimed more than 80 lives across several communities, left homes destroyed, farms abandoned and thousands displaced. Survivors say properties worth hundreds of millions of naira were lost during the violence.
However, beyond the killings and destruction, many residents are now expressing concern over what they describe as attempts to downplay the nature of the attacks by framing them as mere “communal clashes.”
Residents insist the violence was a coordinated armed assault allegedly carried out by heavily armed Fulani attackers who invaded multiple communities simultaneously.
For many survivors, the classification of the violence as communal unrest is not just a matter of wording but one tied to accountability, justice and the future ownership of ancestral lands.
Tensions reportedly deepened after a recent visit to affected communities by Abiodun Essiet, during which residents claimed that several displaced communities remain deserted while some of the alleged attackers now openly graze cattle in those areas.
“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 said.
Videos and images shared online reportedly show displaced villagers, including women and children, fleeing the affected areas with belongings balanced on their heads as they searched for safety in nearby settlements.
Residents also accused some local leaders of weakening demands for justice by participating in reconciliation meetings that critics believe prematurely suggested the crisis had been resolved despite the continued displacement of victims.
Concerns were further heightened after relief materials distributed to affected persons were allegedly shared in ways some residents interpreted as placing victims and alleged attackers on equal footing.
Public affairs commentator Yahaya Kana Ismaila argued that the attacks bear the characteristics of organised armed violence rather than communal conflict.
According to him, the affected Eloyi communities share no ethnic or territorial ties with the armed groups accused of carrying out the attacks, weakening claims that the violence stemmed from traditional communal disputes.
Kana also questioned the absence of arrests despite reports that more than 70 people were killed, warning that the lack of accountability could embolden further violence across the state.
“The painful reality is that many innocent people have been left traumatised, displaced, and uncertain about their future,” he said.
Residents say attacks and intimidation have continued in isolated forms, particularly on farmlands, even as public attention surrounding the crisis gradually fades.
Some affected residents have now appealed directly to both the Nasarawa State Government and the Federal Government for urgent intervention, improved security and humanitarian support.
One resident, Abdulwahid Angala Odeni, described the situation as devastating.
“My people are shattered and homeless. My heritage is under invasion,” he said while calling on the state government for urgent assistance.
Another resident, Suleiman Otto Wakili, urged federal authorities to intervene and restore security to the affected communities.
As displaced families remain uncertain about returning home, many residents say confidence in local authorities and security agencies is rapidly declining, especially amid concerns over inadequate humanitarian support and the continued occupation of deserted communities.
For many survivors, the lingering question remains whether displaced residents will ever safely reclaim their homes and farmlands.