By Frank Ikpefan, Abuja and AbdulGafar Alabelewe, Kaduna
YOUTHS from various communities in Igede, a minority tribe in Benue State, have demanded an end to the incessant killing of their people by alleged militias from Bonta Community.
The youths said houses in Ukpute, Oju, Obi and Ochoro communities have been deserted as a result of constant attacks.
The Igede youths, under the aegis of Association of Igede Media Professionals and Association of Lawyers from Conflict Zone, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the communal crisis and bring an end to the killings in Ukpute and other Igede communities by Bonta, Tiv Militias.
They said the recent attacks in Ochoro, another community in Konshisha Local Government Area by armed militias, have confirmed their fears that this crisis may be an outplay of ethnic conspiracy and unrepentant resolve to drive their people out of Benue State.
“Our suspicions are further heightened by the behaviour and attitudes of Governor Samuel Ortom over this crisis. For the past 13 months since this crisis started, Governor Ortom has refused to visit the displaced persons in Oju LGA but visited the displaced persons in Konshisha LGA,” John Owulo president of Lawyers from Conflict Zone, said.
The youths therefore appealed to Buhari to direct urgent deployment of troops to the disputed boundary between Bonta and Ukpute communities as a short-term measure to save their lives.
They also appealed to the president to direct the establishment of a military post at the boundary between the two communities to forestall future reoccurrence of unprovoked killing of their people by the Bonta community militias.
The youths also called on the Governor Ortom to unite the people of the state.
“Igede is a minority tribe in Benue State. We are not slaves. We want the governor to unite the state and not divide it. What we need is peace; we have no money to buy guns because we are peace-loving people,” the youths said.”
In a related development, the National Coordinator of the National Association of Igede Progressive Forum (NAIPF), Elder Sunday Oibe on Saturday in Kaduna called for the sack of all political leaders in Oju and Konshisha local government areas of Benue State if the communal crisis between the two councils persists.
Oibe said if the political leaders could step into the crisis, there could be peace in the areas.
“I believe that if all the political leaders in Oju and Konshisha stand their ground and tell the youths to stop the fight, the youths will listen to them and stop the crisis. But a situation whereby they decide to remain aloof to the crisis, one is left with little or no option but to call for their sack in their respective constituencies because they have failed to bring peace to the communities.”
He commended Governor Ortom and his deputy for the steps taken so far and recommended that they ensure that perpetrators of the crisis are brought to book.
“If after the land demarcation, there is still crisis; government must use its power to send defaulters to jail because they are giving the State bad name. The governor should close his ears to name calling and do his best to return peace to Oju and Konshisha local government areas,” Oibe said.
While appealing for lasting peace, Oibe said, “We have no reason to fight ourselves because fight does not bring development. We thought it was all over until we saw a renewed hostility this year. It is my appeal that the two warring communities should lay down their arms for peace to reign because if there is no peace, there can never be progress.”
“The youths of Bonta in Konshisha and the youths of Ukpute in Oju should come together and lead a protest to the governor, demanding for good roads, and they will get enough supporters, instead of killing themselves over land demarcation. They should not eat their tomorrow today by killing themselves because war and destruction do not bring development to anybody. They should eschew bitterness.”
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