Jukun Militia Kill 3, Set Ablaze Over 200 Houses In Benue Community

By Tor Vande Acka



Makurdi – Suspected Jukun militia in the early hours of Wednesday, attacked Jootar, a border community between Ukum Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue state and Taraba state, killing three persons in the process.

The militia also allegedly set ablaze over 200 houses, just as the three persons that lost their lives were burnt beyond recognition.

But we reliably gathered that the figures of the dead could be as high as eight persons.


INDEPENDENT also gathered that two police officers that were on duty in the area have been declared missing.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Benue State Command, DSP Sewuese Anene confirmed the number of deaths and the missing police officers.

She said: “The incident at Jootar is confirmed; three unidentified corpses recovered. Two officers on duty in the area yet to be found. Investigation is still in progress.”

Meanwhile, another six persons including a woman were also feared dead in Ankya, Mbamena council ward, another community of Ukum LGA on Wednesday.


However, a three month-old-baby whose mother was killed in the attack, survived the incident.

According to INDEPENDENT investigations, the Wednesday attack was a reprisal attack carried out by the Tongov community of Katsina-Ala LGA on Mbamena council ward of Ukum LGA.

Our findings revealed that the Mbamena community had earlier invaded the Tongov community and killed one person about two days ago.

In the attack by Jukun militia on Jootar, an eye witness in the area told INDEPENDENT that the Jukun militia had laid siege on Jootar at about 4am on Wednesday, through Wukari LGA.

He explained that no sooner had the militia got into the town, than they started shooting sporadically at human targets, and set on fire over 200 houses in the area.


The Caretaker Chairman, Ukum LGA, Tortyokaa Ibellogo who condemned the unprovoked attack on Jootar, described it as unfortunate.

He 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 Benue state, we have Jukun in Abintse and Wurukum in Guma and Makurdi LGAs respectively and they are living peacefully with the Tiv people.

“I want to call on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) and President Muhammadu Buhari 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 explained that property destroyed during the attack could be worth millions of naira.

INDEPENDENT sources further stated that the Jukun militia had operated in the area for about three hours unhindered, even though the location of the military Special Forces posted to the area to keep the peace was less than 2 kilometres away from the community where the militia had carried out the attack.

https://www.independent.ng/jukun-militia-kill-3-set-ablaze-over-200-houses-in-benue-community/

Speechless... The cause might just be matters that could have been resolved amicably, and here we are, needless killings and destruction of properties that will get no government compensation even when they promise to. The next thing you will hear is " the perpetrator will be brought to book". The question is not when, it I how many have been brought to book.

Pictures from the scene of the attack.

The Chairman Ukum LGA of Benue State at the scene of the incident.

Here is the full video of threats by the leader of the Jukun Militia to attack more Tiv settlements in Benue State.

https://mobile./224288087657173/permalink/2828104620608827/?app=fbl&refsrc=https%3A%2F%2Fmobile.facebook.com%2Flogin%2Fdevice-based%2Fpassword%2F&_rdc=1&_rdr

Jukun people are dangerous warriors who see war as a way of life, they are descendants of fierce and deadly warriors who once dominated the kwararafa empire, the jukun are also known to be very good fishermen.
The Tivs on the other hand are farmers who loved to farm and sold their farm products to neighbouring tribes, both tribes lives in Benue State and Southern Taraba, bitter and fierce fighting has continued to linger between this two tribes for many decades, I pray for the day long lasting peace return to all tivs and jukun settlements.

It is alleged that some personnel of the Nigerian Army from Army Barracks, Takum accompanied the Jukun Militia to attack Jootar community, a border community between Ukum Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue state and Taraba state.

Below is the evidence of ID Card and medical receipt to prove all doubters wrong that there were some Army presence to provide cover for the Jukun Militia to carry out the attacks.

PERSECUTION OF THE TIV ETHNIC TRIBE IN NIGERIA

On Wednesday 8th April 2020 a very deadly violence erupted between two border ethnic groups in Nigeria, the Jukuns in Taraba State and the Tivs in Benue State. The allegation is that the first aggressors being the Jukuns carried out attacks against the Tivs in Jootar, Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State supported by the Nigerian Army.


The IHRC Situation Room is currently deliberating on reports received that the Nigerian Army that is supposed to intervene and prevent this type of violence was instead directly supporting the assailants, committing killings and other abuses.


The Director/Ambassador of the IHRC Africa Region HQ, H.E Dr. Tivlumun Innocent Ahure is giving out notices to world leaders to call on President Muhammadu Buhari to take serious steps to hold accountable those responsible. Dr. Ahure will further be disseminating procedural calling on the cadres of the United Nations for their information and necessary action.


The IHRC Situation Room in Abuja, Nairobi and Accra have received the directives to establish communication with the authorities on the issue of sites which will be created for the displaced persons. The images of property destruction and arson from this attack is troubling and that is why the perpetrators of the violence should answer for the crimes.


That men of the Nigerian Army were alleged to have joined and assisted the Jukuns to attack the Tivs amount to crimes against humanity carried out as part of a campaign of ethnic cleansing.


H.E Dr. Tivlumun Innocent Ahure, seeks for the United Nations relevant units on crimes against humanity to underscore that under International Law, crimes against humanity are crimes committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack on a civilian population. The attack must be against a specific population and part of a State or organizational policy.

https://mobile./111880818969653/permalink/1538868272937560/?app=fbl&_rdc=1&_rdr&refsrc=https%3A%2F%2Fm.facebook.com%2Fgroups%2F111880818969653%2Fpermalink%2F1538868272937560%2F

justiz5:
It is alleged that some personnel of the Nigerian Army from Army Barracks, Takum accompanied the Jukun Militia to attack Jootar community, a border community between Ukum Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue state and Taraba state.

Below is the evidence of ID Card and medical receipt to prove all doubters wrong that there were some Army presence to provide cover for the Jukun Militia to carry out the attacks.

I don't believe the Nigerian army was involved in that operation, this could be a deliberate attempt to make it appear that the jukuns are using the military to slaughter Tiv civilians, pls note I am not a jukun.

COMMENTSFIGHTER:
I don't believe the Nigerian army was involved in that operation, this could be a deliberate attempt to make it appear that the jukuns are using the military to slaughter Tiv civilians, pls note I am not a jukun.

You want me to reveal more details about the evidence at our disposal but I will not do that.

Trust me at the appropriate time the world shall here more about the evidence.

Orkpekyandega:
PERSECUTION OF THE TIV ETHNIC TRIBE IN NIGERIA

On Wednesday 8th April 2020 a very deadly violence erupted between two border ethnic groups in Nigeria, the Jukuns in Taraba State and the Tivs in Benue State. The allegation is that the first aggressors being the Jukuns carried out attacks against the Tivs in Jootar, Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State supported by the Nigerian Army.


The IHRC Situation Room is currently deliberating on reports received that the Nigerian Army that is supposed to intervene and prevent this type of violence was instead directly supporting the assailants, committing killings and other abuses.


The Director/Ambassador of the IHRC Africa Region HQ, H.E Dr. Tivlumun Innocent Ahure is giving out notices to world leaders to call on President Muhammadu Buhari to take serious steps to hold accountable those responsible. Dr. Ahure will further be disseminating procedural calling on the cadres of the United Nations for their information and necessary action.


The IHRC Situation Room in Abuja, Nairobi and Accra have received the directives to establish communication with the authorities on the issue of sites which will be created for the displaced persons. The images of property destruction and arson from this attack is troubling and that is why the perpetrators of the violence should answer for the crimes.


That men of the Nigerian Army were alleged to have joined and assisted the Jukuns to attack the Tivs amount to crimes against humanity carried out as part of a campaign of ethnic cleansing.


H.E Dr. Tivlumun Innocent Ahure, seeks for the United Nations relevant units on crimes against humanity to underscore that under International Law, crimes against humanity are crimes committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack on a civilian population. The attack must be against a specific population and part of a State or organizational policy.

https://mobile./111880818969653/permalink/1538868272937560/?app=fbl&_rdc=1&_rdr&refsrc=https%3A%2F%2Fm.facebook.com%2Fgroups%2F111880818969653%2Fpermalink%2F1538868272937560%2F

cc: COMMENTSFIGHTER

justiz5:

INDEPENDENT sources further stated that the Jukun militia had operated in the area for about three hours unhindered, even though the location of the military Special Forces posted to the area to keep the peace was less than 2 kilometres away from the community where the militia had carried out the attack.

https://www.independent.ng/jukun-militia-kill-3-set-ablaze-over-200-houses-in-benue-community/

Again cc: COMMENTSFIGHTER

COMMENTSFIGHTER:
Jukun people are dangerous warriors who see war as a way of life, they are descendants of fierce and deadly warriors who once dominated the kwararafa empire, the jukun are also known to be very good fishermen.
The Tivs on the other hand are farmers who loved to farm and sold their farm products to neighbouring tribes, both tribes lives in Benue State and Southern Taraba, bitter and fierce fighting has continued to linger between this two tribes for many decades, I pray for the day long lasting peace return to all tivs and jukun settlements.

Wait fess nah, why are you rushing?
More of the story please.

Harrykn:



Wait fess nah, why are you rushing?
More of the story please.

the Jukuns are predominantly in Taraba state and their strong hold is wukari and Takum, most Jukuns are Christians but there are also muslems and those who practice traditional African religion.
The Jukuns are believe to have powerful charms that are used during warfare, crocodile has a significance in jukun culture and jukun people are said to be kind and peaceful but when dared they could be very brutal and deadly.

The Tivs are the majority in Benue are their stronghold is Zaki biam and Gboko, the Tivs are found in Benue,Taraba, Nasarawa, and parts of Western Cameroon, the Tivs are known to love singing, dancing and partying, I once attended a marriage ceremony at makurdi and I was fascinated by the "Cat dance and takuruku dancers" the Tivs are Masters and lords of yam farming.
It should be noted that these two tribes have lived side by side for centuries but evidence of hostilities could be traced back to the 70s and it became worst in the 90s where both sides have lost lives and properties burnt.

Judging from what I have heard some jukun youths say, they claimed to be the owner of Taraba and that Tivs are not supposed to be indigenous people of Taraba.

The Tivs are not left out of these surprising claims as Tivs in Benue have reportedly asked jukuns to leave Benue State and go back to Taraba, and these has led to heavy fighting between tivs and jukuns in katsina Ala Area of Benue state.

Following the ugly development of things between the two tribes, the king of the jukuns "Aku uka" and king of the Tivs "Tor tiv have called their tribesmen and kindred to stop the violence and embrace peace, the governor of Taraba and Benue are also heavily invoved in initiating peace to these two tribes

If you are a Tiv or Jukun person reading this write up and you have killed or support the killing of innocent people all in name of fighting for your tribe instead of advocating for peace, know that the blood of those innocent people who have died in these crisis would be on you head.

I know one day there would be peace between this two tribe, and I or my children would be alive to witness that day.

justiz5:


You want me to reveal more details about the evidence at our disposal but I will not do that.

Trust me at the appropriate time the world shall here more about the evidence.

your claims were "alleged" do you have an eyewitness reporter?

No where is really safe in this country, the worst is Government doesn't help the matter at all

COMMENTSFIGHTER:
your claims were "alleged" do you have an eyewitness reporter?

No I do not have eyewitness report. What I have is "nose-witness" report.

The question is " why did the Nigerian Military go to look for their missing Soldiers at Jootar immediately the Jukun Militia were done attacking the settlement?