The corps members bemoaned the security vulnerability of the Jato Aka Turan hamlet, which is close to a Nigerian Army installation. They frequently observed, during the day, the passing of over 20 motorcyclists carrying armed men and ammunition through the settlements.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
Herdsmen who initiated new attacks in the Jato Aka Turan community in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State have killed at least 20 people in two days, according to National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members working there. As a result, they are urgently pleading for immediate security assistance.
In an unbroken, prolonged attack between Sunday and Tuesday, the herdsmen killed at least 20 people and injured a number of others, causing panic and tension in the town, according to corps members who spoke to SaharaReporters on Wednesday. They claimed that because of the dire security situation in the area, their Local Government Inspector (LGI) rarely visits the community outside of the monthly clearance exercise. The LGI advised them to relocate to the nearby Adikpo community in the event that attacks spread to the Jato Aka Turan community.
“I have had the opportunity to speak with one of us at Jato Aka Turan, the affected area of Kwande Local Government Area,” a corps member serving in another community in the state told SaharaReporters on Wednesday. Jato is a very distant settlement from Adikpo, the main town of the Kwande Local Government Area Secretariat, he claimed.
Except for clearance, the LGI rarely visits that location. Similarly, the corps members have their own CDS and activities there. There are roughly twenty-one active military personnel in Kwande LGA’s Jato Aka Turan. “The corper I spoke with, who is presently serving in Jato Aka Turan, highlighted the difficulties and stated that they had notified to the LGI that they are not safe.
He claims that the LGI advised them to relocate to Adikpo once the problem in their community was resolved. They also complained to the nearby military checkpoint, which is a small barrack. According to the military guys, corpers should get in touch with them if there is an issue.
In broad daylight, Jato Aka Turan corps members frequently observe over 20 motorcycles carrying soldiers and ammunition as they ride to the neighboring settlements to engage in combat with ranchers. The villagers are attacked and killed by herdsmen when they (the vigilantes) give in. God forbid, I worry that the corps members may suffer if nothing is done about them.
Wase Richie Aondofa, a Facebook user, shared graphic images of the attacks on the social media platform and stated, “Photographic proof of a slew of Fulani herdsmen attacks in many communities in my village yesterday in Jato Aka Turan, Kwande Local Government Area, Benue State.
Millions of dollars’ worth of property was destroyed, and several lives were lost. We are pleading with all the pertinent organizations in charge of this to come to our aid. “We’re dying! The Kwande Local Government Area’s Jato Aka Turan, where I live, is no longer safe. May God grant you what you desire.
SaharaReporters also obtained a screenshot of a corps member’s WhatsApp status, which stated, “NYSC staff informed us in camp that there was no insecurity in Benue after Fulani X men (Fulani herdsmen) killed at least 20 people between Sunday and yesterday (Tuesday) in a village very close to my PPA center (Place of Primary Assignment).” NYSC employees are aware of this fight because it began in 2014. The school where I teach (PPA) was flown over by helicopter today.
The settlement was shelled by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF). The sound of the bomb caused the pupils to begin running. They were sent back to class. However, SP Anene Sewuese Catherine, the public relations officer for the Benue State Police, declined calls from SaharaReporters seeking her opinion on the police response to the incident.
Anene nevertheless sent a text message to our reporter saying, “Can’t talk now. What’s going on?” nevertheless, till the time of posting this report, the police spokesman has not reacted to a text message.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>