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Soldier aids Boko Haram attack

Published

11 years ago

March 7, 2014

At least 37 people were killed by gunfire in Benue by suspected
invading herdsmen, and militants of the Jukun militia.
The attacks were carried on in the broad daylight yesterday, and took
place simultaneously. One on the Moon district in Kwande Local
Government extreme, of Benue North-east, and the others in
Anyibe, Tse-Dzwegwe, Ayilamo and Tse-Iboor in the Logo Local
Government, south. The attacks occurred just south of the Northeast
senatorial district.
Sources from the attacked communities told Saharareporters said
that if security measures are not put in place, and stepped-up, that the
home town of Governor Gabriel Suswam, Anyiin in Logo Local
Government would be captured by tomorrow (Friday).
The immediate past Vice Chairman of Kwande LGA, the Hon Abo
Utah, said that while away in Makurdi, he received information
from his family members that their village at Moon, including his
country home, that of the District Head, and over a hundred houses,
were set ablaze.
Witnesses said that over 21 people where killed by an undetermined
number of Fulani mercenaries who were acting in concert with some
Jukun thugs from the neighboring Takum (Kashimbila).
The youth in Jato-Aka were said to have been mobilized, and
arrested two soldiers, who were thought to be helping the Fulani and
Jukun armed men.
The soldiers, it was later learned, were handed over to the police
authorities in Adikpo, the Local Government headquarters. They
immediately transferred them to the Police Command Headquarters
in Makurdi.
The people insisted that the attacks may be a result, if not evidence of,
their continuous complaints about armed soldiers from the 93 Division
Adda barracks in Takum, Taraba state. It has been rumoured that
they are s working in concert with the Jukun militia to attack the Tiv
villages.
Eyewitnesses say that there was pandemonium in the concentrated
Jato-Aka town with the capture of Waya, a village located just
before the town, as the armed men kept advancing towards them
unchallenged.
At the time of writing this report, residents said many had deserted
the ancient town, leaving the soldiers who had them surrounded,
including other local areas aggressively insisting their colleagues must
be handed over to them.
Some victims escaped to Makurdi, and are staying with their
relations told SaharaReporters how they saw some of their family
members, numbering about 16, who were shot and killed on site. It is
believed that the armed men were backed by Nigerian soldiers, who
were shooting at unarmed residents while another team armed men
continued burning down homes.
Three weeks ago in the Northwest senatorial district, the village of
the Tor Tiv, Alfred Akawe Torkula were attacked, as armed men
razed the villages in mass fires while scores more were killed.
Addressing the media after signing the 2014 appropriation bill into law,
Governor Suswam confirmed that he heard security reports of the
attacks, but insisted his government is doing every thing within his
powers to bring the situation under control.