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By Samuel Torlumun
Ayatutu Cultural and Social Development Initiative (AYACASODI) Worldwide, a Tiv socio-cultural group has condemned the attack carried out by the Nigerian Army Personnel on peaceful protesters, in Jootar, Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, with sophisticated weapons.
Statement from AYACASODI signed by three members of the group, Chief Baaki Timothy (National President), Comrade David Nyiagee (National Secretary) and Comrade Peter Orga (National Publicity Secretary), and made available to Apex News Exclusive indicates that men of the Nigerian Army confiscated motorcycles from the rightful owners, in the later hours of Wednesday, 08/03/2023, an act that led to protest by the youths in the community. Instead of resolving it professionally, the Army resorted in a shot at sight approach.
According to the group, the attack resulted to the death of Mr. Imongo Verve, while others sustained different degrees of serious bullets injuries.
AYACASODI describes the attack as unwarranted, illegal and inhumane on the unarmed innocent youths vowing that such dastard act won’t be swept under the carpet. The group is calling on President Muhammadu Buhari, Chief of Defence Staff, Minister of Defence, National Human Rights Commission, CSO and other relevant organizations, to order and ensure thorough investigation into the attack to bring perpetrators to book.
Detail of the release made available to Apex News Exclusive read as follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Our attention has been drawn to the illegal and inhumane attack on the unarmed Tiv people in Jootar, Ukum LGA, Benue State by the Nigerian Army Personnel/Operation Whilst Stroke based in Chonko and Wukari, Wukari LGA, Taraba State on Wednesday 08th March 2023.
Ayatutu Cultural & Social Development Initiative (AYACASODI) Worldwide as an organization, duly incorporated with the sole aim of promoting the culture, peace and unity, development and social values of the Tiv people worldwide, we are here today to condemn the inhumane acts perpetrated by the Nigerian Army Personnel who should be the hope of the common man, and to call on the respective authorities to look into the matter, ensuring that the perpetrators faced the law, at the same time avoid further occurrence.
- On Wednesday, the 8th day of March 2023, the peace-loving people of Jootar-Mbaterem Ukum were as usual, moving about doing their normal businesses, until around 1300hrs when the Nigerian Army Personnel came from Wukari, Taraba State to carry out their usual illegal acts by confiscating motorcycles from the rightful owners, causing disorders in the community.
- Recall that the Benue State Government had banned the use of motorcycles in Sankera axis of Benue State, which Jootar was part of, since December 2020. However, the ban was officially lifted on the 7th of March 2023 with immediate effect, after court judgement; Meaning on this said day, people were freely riding their motorcycles all over Benue State without interference from security agencies.
- It is shocking that, the following day after the ban was lifted, some personnel of the Nigerian Army based in Wukari town of Taraba State under the command of Major Paul Duniya, came to Jootar to confiscate motorcycles. Their attempts were initially resisted by the people who stood their ground that they were freed by law to ride their motorcycles. However, they succeeded in taking away some motorcycles from the rightful owners to Wukari town in Taraba State.
- As law abiding citizens of the country who wanted the general public to hear their cries following the humiliation and intimidation by the army, the people of Jootar carried out a peaceful protest, demanding that the Ukum LGC Chairman should come and get their motorcycles for them. Pictorial evidence and eye witnesses attested that these protesters were unarmed and non-destructive.
- Surprisingly, after few minutes, troops of Nigerian Army Personnel with sophisticated weapons again invaded the community, this time around in eight (8) hilux vehicles, alongside one (1) armor car and two (2) gun trucks. They stopped at the Jootar Bridge (the border between Benue and Taraba State) and interrogated the people who also expressed their concerns.
- Ladies and Gentlemen, it is very unfortunate and sad that we have to inform you that, without provoked actions from the protesters, those Army Personnel, after sporadic shooting, aimed and shot at the people, resulting to the immediate death of Mr. Imongo Verve, while Mr. Aondoawase Abeda sustained serious bullets injuries. The rest escaped death and injuries by God’s grace.
- As a matter of fact, these people were attacked with the use of heavy and sophisticated weapons which are not constitutionally allowed to be used in quelling civil unrest. Weapons acquired with tax payers money and meant for protection of Nigerian citizens were rather used against same citizens.
- We want the world to note that, this inhumane treatment on Tiv people from Sankera axis by the Nigerian Army Personnel is not the first. History has it that, on 21/10/2001 the military invaded different towns within Sankera axis killing hundreds of innocent civilians. They also colluded with the Fulani militias and invaded Gbeji town on the 19/10/2022. The same Nigerian Army on 20th and 26th November 2022 burnt down Ikyaior Market, destroying yams, money, stores and other properties. Not to talk of the ones we do not know. As if that was not enough, they are still carrying out same illegal acts on the Tiv people, anytime they feel like; and they always go unpunished.
- There are also reports that, those same Army based in Chonko and Wukari (Taraba State) on several occasions invaded this same Jootar in the past, confiscating hundreds of motorcycles which they took to Wukari in Taraba State. One would wonder, (a) when has the Benue State Government given the Nigerian Army stationed in Taraba State the mandate to come to Benue State and help her enforce the law? (b) is there any warehouse built by the Benue State Government in Taraba State that the Army have been taking the seized motorcycles to, for safekeeping? (c) If they are enforcing the Taraba State Government law, is Jootar part of Taraba State? (d) How many motorcycles have they confiscated within Wukari town? (e) where have they kept the motorcycles they have been confiscating? (f) is it true that they have been taking the motorcycles to sale to the non-Tiv in Wukari? These questions and many more are begging for answers.
- We hereby condemn the illegal acts in totality, and call on: The Minister of Defence; Chief of Defence Staff; CO 72 Battalion Makurdi; CO 93 Battalion Takum; The National Human Rights Commission; His Excellency Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, President and Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to order and ensure the thorough investigation of the incident, ensuring that (a) the perpetrators are fished out and brought to book, (b) the families of the victims are adequately compensated, (c) all the confiscated motorcycles are returned to the rightful owners and (d) to employ adequate measures towards ending the continuous inhumane treatment on Tiv people by the Nigerian Army; among others.
- Furthermore, we call on the Executive Governor of Benue State, H.E. Chief Dr. Samuel I. Ortom (Nyamkyume i Benue); The Senator representing Benue North East (Zone A) H. E. Sen Dr Gabriel T. Suswam; The Federal House of Representatives member representing Sankera; the State Assembly Member to come to the aid of their helpless constituents. Your people are suffering from the hands of the military, who are meant to protect them. We remember vividly telling you on the 20/10/2022 in one of our press statements that, your constituents are not seeing peace, and there is no security for them.
- Once again, we call on the Chairman Ukum LGC to be proactive. We were reliably informed that the Chairman was timely informed of the incident, however he could not act promptly. Even after the killings, though he sent a representative earlier same day, was not seeing visiting the scene personally, as early as was expected. Please sir, the people believed in you and were even calling you in their perilous time; we plead with you to provide more security for your people.
- We appeal to the good people of Jootar Mbaterem to continue to be law abiding citizens and not take laws into their hands. The good Lord who is the chief security of the universe will never forsake you, even when your leaders and supposed security agencies are against you.
- Finally, we hereby wish to notify the general public that, the Nigerian Army has again carried out an inhumane treatment on the peace-loving people of Benue State, when there was no provocation of any nature from the people. We humbly call on anybody or group of people who can help, to come to the rescue of our people. All we want is peace.
Thank you and God bless you.
Signed:
Chief Timothy T. Baaki, Nat’l President
Comr. Dcn. David T. Nyiagee, Nat’l Secretary
Comr. Peter C. Orga, Nat’l Publicity Secretary
