Igede Youths call for urgent intervention as genocide looms in Benue

Igede Youths call for urgent intervention as genocide looms in Benue

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

Benue State is on the brink of a full-blown genocide as the Igede community in Oju Local Government Area (LGA) cries out for urgent intervention to stop the relentless attacks by Bonta Tiv militias from Konshisha LGA. 

The attacks, which began over a week ago, have taken a dangerous and genocidal turn, with the State Government seemingly unable or unwilling to stem the tide.

According to Ukpute community Youth leader,  Mike Ube, the attack’s I are aimed at preventing the reopening of boundaries between the two communities, which the State Government commenced a few weeks ago. “The crisis is now slipping out of control as mobilization for further attacks has been extended to 14 LGAs of the Tiv-speaking majority ethnic group in the State,” Ube warned.

The situation took a grim turn few days ago when intelligence revealed that truckloads of fighters were being mobilized from different LGs in Tiv land towards Konshisha (Bonta) to unleash further violence on the Igede community. “We are living in fear as we have no doubt that our lives are under threat,” Ube said.

The Igede community was further outraged when the Commissioner of Police in the State invited them to a peace meeting at Tse Agbaragba, the headquarters of the aggressor LG, without deploying his men to prevent further attacks. 

“Caught in the webs of apprehension we could not attend the meeting as we are yet to recover from the shock of the gruesome murder of 12  soldiers and an Officer of the Nigeria Army by the same Bonta people about 2 years ago during similar attacks on us,” Ube recalled.

He therefore appealed to all stakeholders within and outside Benue State to come to their rescue before it is too late.

 “The Rwanda experience should not be allowed in Nigeria. Please, save our lives,” he pleaded.

As the situation continues to deteriorate, concerned citizens and human rights organizations are calling for immediate intervention by security agencies and government officials to prevent a humanitarian crisis from unfolding in Benue State.