Nine killed in fresh attacks in Benue communities

A sad report from Benue State indicates that no fewer than nine persons were Wednesday feared killed in morning attacks by militias on Mbamena and Jootar communities in Ukum Local Council of the State.

According to the report, in the assault on Jootar, a settlement bordering Benue and Taraba states, three persons were eliminated by suspected Jukun militias while the one at Mbamena that led to the death of six was reportedly perpetrated by militias from Tongov area who were allegedly on a revenge mission.

The council caretaker chairman, Tortyokaa Ibellogo, who confirmed the incidents, wondered why “the Jukun militia will cross over to Benue where there is no crisis”, insisting that Tiv farmers in the state were not at war with their neigbours

He went on: “To the best of my knowledge, this is supposed to be a crisis between the Tiv and Jukun in Taraba State, and has nothing to do with Benue. In my state, we have Jukun in Abintse and Wurukum in Guma and Makurdi living peacefully with the Tiv people

“I want to call on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Chief of Army Staff and the President of Nigeria to, as a matter of urgency, intervene in this crisis.”

Also the police public relations officer (PPRO) for the state command, DSP Anene Sewuese, stated that three unidentified corpses had been recovered while two officers were missing in Jootar.
She added that the investigation was ongoing.