*Community Smells A Rat
*Gov Alia Reacts
By Sam Tyav, Makurdi
Fresh round of bloodletting rocked Benue State as heavily armed men suspected to be killer herdsmen attacked Jato-Aka, Mbachon, and Tse- Yough settlements of Yaav council ward, Kwande Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State, leaving about 27 persons dead and several others bleeding with various degrees of injuries.
Many of the latter are presently receiving medical attention in an unidentified hospital in Jato-aka with scanty information on their response to treatment.
President General (PG), Kwande United People’s Organization (KWUPO), Simon Aloko Nachi, who disclosed these while reacting to the attacks in these Christian communities, revealed that some victims of the attack were still missing, raising concerns that the death toll may be higher.
The killings are coming barely nine months after the massacre in Yelwata, Guma LGA of the State, where murderous herdsmen snuffed lives out of over 200 persons, including entire families, many in their sleep -a gory deed that shook the international community, attracting an official visit by President Bola Tinubu as well as condemnation by the US and others.
The PG expressed bewilderment over the repeated attacks on communities in the LGA, despite the deployment of armed security personnel to the area.
He also condemned the latest attacks on River Jam and Mbaikyo Mbachon communities in Yaav ward, at the same time as the ones under focus, revealing that women and children were massacred.
Nachi described the development as betrayal of the highest order by those whose duty it is to protect the people.
Apparently smelling a rat, the PG said: “Not a single shot was fired in defence of our people. Not one attacker was stopped.
“We must ask: What exactly are these security personnel doing there? Who sent them? And whose lives are they protecting?”
Obviously frustrated, Nachi demanded an immediate explanation from security field commanders and appealed to Governor Hyacinth Alia, Kwande LGA Chairman, and security agencies to take urgent action to protect the communities.
The community leader defined deployment without action as mere decoration and not protection, insisting that “if these security personnel cannot defend communities within shouting distance of their base, then something is deeply wrong.”
He urged all stakeholders as well as the international community to take note of the situation and support efforts to end insecurity in Kwande.
Governor Alia, while reacting to the attack, condemned “in the strongest terms” the brutal killings in Tyungu Jam and Mbaav communities in Yaav and Mbadura Council wards of Kwande LGA.
However, he differed from the community on the death toll, saying “12 innocent people” died in the attacks while several others were injured.
In a statement by his Technical Adviser on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communications, Chief Solomon Iorpev, the governor further described the attack as barbaric, senseless, and unacceptable, expressing deep sorrow and outrage at the loss of precious lives and extended his condolences to the families of the victims.
Every life, the governor noted, matters and assured the people of Kwande and Benue State that his administration would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that those responsible for the killings were held accountable.
The governor directed security agencies to intensify efforts to apprehend the perpetrators and prevent further attacks, assuring the people of Kwande that his administration would remain committed to ensuring the security and safety of all citizens.
He insisted that government would not be deterred by resistance from those opposed to peace.
He appealed to the people of Kwande not only to remain calm but also to cooperate with security agencies as they work to restore peace to the area, promising that government would stop at nothing to ensure that absolute peace returns to the state in general and to Kwande in particular.
Efforts to get reaction from the State Police Command failed as of the time of filing this report.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Some terrorists.
