9 killed, 2 Policemen missing in gunmen early morning attacks
About nine persons were reportedly killed in the early hours of Wednesday in separate attacks in the Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State by gunmen suspected to be members of a militia.
It was reported that the gunmen carried out the reprisal of the attack by a militia gang belonging to a kingpin in Ujoondo, where a person was killed.
Three persons were allegedly killed at Jooter, a border community between Benue and Taraba states, while six others among them a nursing mother, were killed at Mbamena settlement.
The perpetrators, suspected to be Jukun Militia executed the attack at Jooter while the attack on Mbamena settlement was executed by local militia from Tongov area.
Commenting on the Jooter attack, a resident that wish to be anonymous said that the gunmen, who are suspected to be from Taraba State stormed the border community around 4a.m. on Wednesday through Wukari and shooting indiscriminately.
Another source explained that the Jukum militia operated unchallenged for about three hours, killing three Tiv farmers and over 200 houses destroyed along the line. This, according to the source, happened even though special forces of Wukari were about two kilometers away from where the incidence occurred.
Speaking to pressmen in confirmation of the development, Caretaker committee chairman for Ukum Local Government Area, Mr Tortyokaa Ibellogo, said that six people were killed in an attack that he suspected to be carried out by the Jukuns.
The chairman 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 have Jukun in Abintse and Wurukum in Guma and Makurdi, living peacefully with the Tiv people.
“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 the entire world.” Ibellogo concluded.
The Benue State Command Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Catherine Anne, confirmed the death of three unidentified corpses in Jooter but claimed to be unaware of the Mbamena deaths. She said, “Incident at Jooter is confirmed. Three unidentified corpses have been recovered. Two officers on duty in the area yet to be found. Investigation is still in progress.”
The force commander, Operation Whirl Stroke, Major General Adeyemi Yekini, added, “As early as 4am today, our troops went and stationed there and we are not aware of anyone killed as at that time and none of our officers is missing,”
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