About nine persons on the early hours of Wednesday has been reported killed in separate attacks within the Ukum Local government Area of Benue State by gunmen suspected to be members of a militia.
It was gathered that three people were killed at Jooter, a border community between Benue and Taraba states in which six other persons including a nursing mother, were reported killed at Mbamena settlement.
The first incident at Jooter was said to have been perpetrated by people suspected to be Jukun militia from Taraba State, while the Mbamena attack was alleged to have been caused by local militia from Tongov area who were out on reprisal.
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Speaking on the Jooter attack by suspected Jukun militia, a resident who pleaded anonymity said that the militiamen suspected to be from Taraba State, stormed the border community at about 4 am through Wukari and shot sporadically.
“The newest attack came with renewed provocation and about three Tiv farmers lost their lives while over 200 houses were also destroyed.”
The source said further that the Jukum militia allegedly operated unchallenged for nearly three hours despite the presence of Special Forces in Wukari, about two kilometres far away from the attacked community.
The Chairman Of Caretaker Committee for Ukum Local Government Area, Mr Tortyokaa Ibellogo who confirmed the incident said that six people were killed within the two attacks but he accused the Jukuns of being behind the attacks.
He said, “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, Benue, we’ve Jukun in Abintse and Wurukum in Guma and Makurdi, living peacefully with the Tiv people.”
He added “I want to call on the inspector General of Police, Chief of Army Staff and the President to, as a matter of urgency, intervene in this crisis. Already, we are trying to maintain a social distance to face the COVID-19 pandemic which has affected Benue, Nigeria and therefore the entire world.”
Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Catherine Anne, confirmed that three unidentified corpses were recovered in Jooter declined more comment on Mbamena.
She said, “Incident at Jooter is confirmed. Three unidentified corpses have been recovered. Two officers on duty within the area yet to be found. The investigation remains ongoing .”
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