Fresh massacre in Benue, Zamfara: 61 killed, 82
houses razed
…Victims mostly women
and children …Tiv leaders cry for help
By Peter Duru,
Makurdi
In
what is becoming a weekly sordid ritual, 61 persons were, over the weekend,
killed in separate dastardly incidents in Benue and Zamfara States.
Whereas
31persons, mostly women and children, lost their lives in six communities of
Guma Local Government Area of Benue State in the hands of suspected herdsmen,
another 30 were massacred in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State, by
suspected gunmen.
Ortom
Sunday Vanguard gathered that 25 persons were killed in coordinated attacks on
Tse-Abi, Tse-Ginde, Tse-Peviv, Tse-Ikyo, Agenke and Gbenke communities of
Unzughul, Saghev Council Ward in Guma; the killings were said to have commenced
from late Friday to the early hours of Saturday. 82 houses were razed by the
herdsmen during their orgy of killings in the affected areas of Benue State.
Still
in Benue, a bloody clash of rival political and cult groups in Otukpo Local
Government Area of the state, accounted for six of the deceased 31. An eye
witness to the Zamfara killings, Mr Shuaibu Kabaro, told the News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) in Maru, that the suspected gunmen attacked the two communities
and the incident was immediately reported to the security agents.
He
said three of the bandits were arrested by security agents following the prompt
report of the incident to the security personnel.
Benue
killings According to a resident of one of the affected communities, some of
the invaders who stormed the communities were dressed in military fatigue and
armed with sophisticated weapons.
“They came around 10pm and started shooting
sporadically, killing people and razing houses and hurts in the communities.
“People ran for their lives but many, especially women and children, could not
escape the rage of the assailants. While some were butchered, several others
were gunned down in cold blood – including two children of a Makurdi-based
pastor who traveled home for holidays.
“After the attack, the invaders as usual
retreated. It is a sorry sight in the communities, scores sustained injuries,
many of the houses are still burning as I speak with you. “The invaders also
looted the valuables and food of their helpless victims.” The Benue State
Government, in a statement through the Chief Press Secretary, CPS, to the
Governor, Mr. Terver Akase confirmed the attack.
The
statement read in part, “I can confirm that herdsmen last night and earlier
today invaded Saghev Ward of Guma Local Gvernment Area, killing many innocent
persons. “10 corpses have so far been recovered with many still missing and
scores injured. The armed herdsmen also burnt numerous houses, shops and other
property in the area. “This mindless attack was unprovoked, and we urge
security agencies to arrest the herdsmen behind the killings for prosecution.”
Meanwhile,
the Mdzough U Tiv, MUT, a socio-cultural organisation of Tiv speaking people in
the country has again alleged that the governor of a neighbouring state, had
provided a safe haven for militant herdsmen from where they launch attacks on
defenseless Tiv indigenes of both Nasarawa and Benue States.
In
a statement signed by the President General of MUT, Chief Edward Ujege, and the
Secretary General, Dr. Boniface Ukende, lamented that the said governor had
done nothing to check the relentless attacks. The statement read, “MUT can
authoritatively reveal that between 15th, 19th of April 2018, the herdsmen
invaded Tiv villages in Awe, Obi, Keana, Doma and Lafia Local Government Areas
of Nasarawa State and killed over 75 Tiv people and ransacked villages and
displaced over 100,000 Tiv people.
“It can be recalled that in January, 2018, it
was made public that herdsmen were harbored in TUNGA settlement in Awe Local
Government Area of Nasarawa State. This was later confirmed by security agents
when their kingpin was arrested in Tunga. “Currently we are informed that the
herdsmen that recently attacked and killed over 75 Tiv people are accommodated
in Adudu in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
They
have made Adudu their second base from where they spring to unleash terror on
defenseless indigenous Tiv people of Nasarawa and Benue States. “In consequence
therefore, the herdsmen have taken over and occupied Tiv houses unchecked and
where they cannot for want of number they set such abandoned properties ablaze.
“We
call on all well meaning Nigerians, the National Assembly, National Human
Rights Commission and International Community to urgently wade into this
issue.” Meanwhile there were conflicting accounts on the murder of six persons
in Otukpo local government at the weekend.
A
source in the town allegedly linked the crisis leading to the murder of the
victims to the caucus meeting of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Benue
South, held in the town.
Another
account linked the killings to a rival bloody cult fight which also left scores
injured. In a statement exonerating his party from the crisis, the APC Director
of Publicity, Peter Apeh, told Sunday Vanguard on phone that there were no fracas,
not to talk of killing during the caucus meeting of the party in Benue South
last Friday contrary to speculations that the incumbent state chairman, Abba
Yaro, brought in thugs to manhandle his political opponents.
Apeh, however, alleged that “The thing was
said to have started from Thursday. I heard that boys, rival cult boys were
moving from street to street killing people. It was not like it happened at the
venue of our meeting. “I also heard rumours that it was the state chairman that
instigated it. How can somebody that has been endorsed instigate such? Abba
Yaro is such a man that will not stoop low to indulge in such activity. If
there was anything of such, it might have been caused by the an aspirant.”
When
contacted, the Benue state Police Public Relations Officer, Assistant
Superintendent, ASP, Moses Yamu, said he was yet to get details of the
incidents.
30
killed again in Zamfara The eye witness to the Zamfara massacre said, the
gunmen, in turn went and mobilised more gang members and returned in multitude
to carry out the attack which left about 30 dead and many others injured in the
two communities.
The
Maru Local Government Council Chairman, Alhaji Salisu Dangulbi, and the Police
Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Mohammed Shehu, both confirmed the
killings. According to them, many of the villagers deserted their homes for
fear of further attacks which has now become the modus operandi of the gunmen.
The
duo said, with the presence of security personnel now in the area however, many
of the villagers have started to return home. The PPRO further explained that
units of mobile police working with the military and other security agents were
immediately mobilised to the affected areas, adding that peace and normalcy
have since been restored. The police spokesman, however, said that the actual
number of those killed was still being worked on and “until this is done, l
cannot give you actual figure at the moment”.
(NAN)
Source:
https://www.vanguardngr.com
