3 feared dead in renewed attack on Benue community
No fewer than three persons were reportedly killed by suspected Jukun militia on Wednesday morning when they invaded Jootar settlement in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue state.
An eyewitness account has it that the Jukum militia who came from Taraba state stormed the border community at about 4:00am through Wukari and started shooting sporadically while residents were deep asleep that fateful Wednesday.
One of the victims, Mr. Agber Jootar said the latest attack came without any provocation and that at least three Tiv farmers lost their lives while over 100 houses were also razed down as residents scampered for their lives.
According to him, the Jukun militia operated unchallenged for about three hours even as the federal government special forces are stationed in Wukari , two Kilometres away from the attacked community of Jootar.
The Ukum Local Government Area caretaker committee Chairman, Mr. Tortyokaa Ibellogo condemned the invasion and wondered why the Jukun militia will cross over to Benue state when their is no crisis to cause mayhem.
He said the communal crisis between the Tiv and Jukun in Taraba state has nothing to do with Benue state, pointing out that there are Jukun people in Abintse and Wurukum in Guma and Makurdi Local Government Areas in Benue state that are living peacefully with their Tiv brothers.
The chairman therefore, called on President Mohammadu Buhari, the inspector general of police and the chief of army staff to as a matter of urgency intervene in the latest attack with the hope of ending it permanently.
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It would be recalled that Jootar community was attacked in July last year by suspected Jukum militia where four persons were killed with no arrest made by the security agencies.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in Benue state, Catherine Anene said three unidentified bodies have been recovered from the scene.
According to her, two police officers on duty in the area are yet to be found as investigation is still in progress to arrest the perpetrators of the act.
