13042018 - Herdsmen kill 66 in Benue, Taraba; scores in Zamfara

Vanguard, FRIDAY,
APRIL 13, 2018—5
POCKET CARTOON
VISIT—Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (right); Minister
of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed (Centre) and Lagos State
Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, during
the courtesy visit by the minister at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday, to promote
the forthcoming 61st UNWTO/CAF Meeting in Abuja.
Herdsmen kill 66 in Benue,
Taraba; scores in Zamfara
Continues from Page 1
residents, were reportedly
killed in separate attacks
on communities in Logo
and Ukum local
government areas of Benue
State, 25 were slaughtered
at Jandeikyula village in
Wukari Local Government
Area of Taraba State.
The killings in Taraba
prompted the governor,
Darius Ishaku, to align with
former Chief of Army Staff
and Defence Minister, Lt.
General T.Y. Danjuma,
asking the people to rise
and defend themselves.
The residents in the
Benue communities also
said the death toll may rise
sharply in the coming
hours, as more bodies were
still being removed from
nearby bushes.
Among the injured
victims of the latest attack
was 70-year-old Mama
Uhaen Ndiisaa, mother of
a former chairman of Logo
Local Government Area,
Mr. Terhemen Ndiisaa, of
Peoples Democratic Party,
PDP.
The latest attacks came a
day after 15 people were
killed by gunmen said to be
wearing military uniform.
“The first attack
happened in Tse Hwer in
Ukemberyge/Tsweray
Council Ward in Logo
Local Government around
6:30 p.m. to this morning,”
said a senior state
government official who
did not want to be named.
He said he had been
warned by federal
authorities for talking to the
media in the past.
“Some people are saying
their families are missing,
but we haven’t been able
to confirm how many
exactly,’’ he said.
‘’When they arrived at
about 6:00 p.m. in Jande-
Ikyura in Ukum Local
Government Area, the
gunmen appeared
determined to wipe out the
entire community, said
another resident of the area
who said he had been to
the village yesterday
morning to witness the
aftermath.
Jande-Ikyura is a border
community between Ukum
LGA in Benue and Wukari
Local Government Area in
Taraba State.
“It was like they wanted
to be sure that all the
villagers were killed before
they would run back to their
hideouts. They killed 22
people who were living
there,’’ said 48-year-old
Isaac Ihiev.
Mr Ihiev said three of the
attackers who were killed
when some youth
responded to the assault
were found in military
uniform.
“Three of them were
killed and they dressed like
soldiers when their bodies
were moved out from the
bush,” Mr Ihiev said,
adding that he lives in a
nearby village that falls
under Wukari LGA in
Taraba State.
He said efforts were
underway to find the
missing people.
In his account, Terhemen
Ndiisaa told Vanguard on
phone: “The herdsmen
attacked my community,
Igboughur Mbavuur, in
Logo Local Government,
last night around 10pm,
killing two persons.
“This time, they did not
burn down houses but
resorted to breaking into
people’s houses but luckily
many were able to flee and
escape after they heard the
sporadic gunshots in the
community.
“Unfortunately, my
mother was shot while she
was fleeing but she is still
alive and many others also
sustained injuries.
“As we speak, our people
are packing out of our
villages and communities
and fleeing to any safe place
but the truth is that nowhere
is safe for now because we
cannot tell the next target.”
Also speaking, a former
aide of the former governor
of the state, whose
community was affected in
the latest attack, said the
group which attacked
Igbougher Mbavuur also
struck at Tse-Wadr, killing
three persons.
“We suspect that the same
gang which attacked
Igbougher Mbavuur were
responsible for the early
morning attack on Tse-
Wadr in the same Logo
local government where
they sacked the community
and killed three persons,
leaving scores with injuries
around 5am today
(yesterday).
“As we speak, there is
palpable fear and tension
in several communities of
Logo local government,
especially those bordering
River Benue and Nasarawa
State, from where the
invaders come to attack our
communities.
“Usually, they cross River
Benue from Nasarawa
State to attack, after which
they beat a retreat in a
guerrilla fashion.
‘On Danjuma I stand‘
“With this development,
I am adding my voice and
actually toeing the lines of
the call by the former Army
Chief, Theophilus
Danjuma and Governor
Samuel Ortom that the
people should resort to selfdefence.
“I want to affirm to you
that as from the 10th of this
month till today, there have
been continuous attacks
everyday in our
communities and how long
will we watch helplessly
while our people are killed
like animals? It is, indeed,
a source of worry to us all.”
Reacting, the Chief Press
Secretary to the Acting
Governor of the state, Mr.
Continues on Page 41
$1bn for security equipment to fight Boko Haram
By Bose Adelaja, Ebun
Sessou & Frederick Okopie
PROVIDING $1bn
for the fight against
Boko Haram insurgency
is necessary. I consider
it an urgent matter. But
will the fund be judiciously
used? I hope it
will not be managed by
selfish leaders?
Mr. Adedeji Oluwafemi,
Music Promoter
CRITICISM is not
needed in this
matter. The best thing is
to pray for divine intervention
over this matter
so that our leaders will
be guided and not act
against the interest of
this nation.
Mrs. Bunni Adekola,
Gospel artiste
I
don’t have confi
dence in this government.
I am sure so many
people also don’t trust
the intentions of the government.
A government
that derives its strength
from propaganda and
lies should not be trusted.
Insecurity is a threat
to all and we must support
the search for a solution.
But this government
is very insincere.
Mr.Chukwuma Tony,
Mechanic
Iam not comfortable
with this development.
This government
should just provide security
for us because we
are tired of excuses.
This government should
do its best to ensure we
are secured instead of
talking about of $1billion
If the fund is approved
now, I hope they will not
make another approval
again for the same purpose.
Mr. Ebenezer Babalola,
Pastor
HE development is
Tgood but due
process must be
followed. If the
constitution says that all
monies to be spent by
the executive arm of
government must have
the approval of the
National Assembly, such
process must be
followed. The issue of
security is paramount in
the country but the
National Assembly must
give approval before the
fund can be disbursed.
Mr. Tolani Abati,
Analyst
T HE
last
administration did
something like this. For
a country that is sitting
on a keg of gun powder,
we should not be talking
about spending money
like that. The
government should put
resources into
agriculture and ventures
that will create
employment. Bill Gates
talked about Human
Capital Development
and I expect the
government to spend
resources on that.
Mr. Ifeanyi Okoye Jnr,
Analyst