- A former Chief Army Staff have basked to put an end to the ongoing killings of Tiv farmers by armed militias from Jukun area of Taraba state
- The MBCG urged Theophilus Danjuma to immediately advise his tribesmen to desist from the incessant killing of Tiv people
- The group said there is no sensible provocation to push the Jukun people to take up arms against their Tiv brothers either in Wukari in Taraba or Ukum in Benue states
The Middle Belt Conscience Guard (MBCG) has called on the former Chief Army Staff, Lieutenant General Theophilus Danjuma (retired), to put an end to the ongoing killings of Tiv farmers by armed militias from Jukun area of the state.
The group alleged that Danjuma colluded with some youths of Jukun to carry out attacks on Benue farmers in Ukum local governmnet area of Taraba state.
In a statement signed by its president, Raymond Enero and secretary general, Paul Itodo, the MBCG asked Danjuma to call his kinsmen to order.
The group also urged Danjuma to immediately advise his tribesmen to desist from the incessant killing of Tiv people.
MBCG said there is no sensible provocation to push the Jukun people to take up arms against their Tiv brothers either in Wukari in Taraba or Ukum in Benue states.
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The group said its findings show that in Wukari local government of Taraba state some suspected armed youths violently assailed and brutally murdered military personnel in Wukuri.
It added that by military tradition, the killing of its personnel irked them, but instead of a general reprisal attack on the community where the killing occurred, they launched a painstaking secret investigation to unveil the actual culprits.
"Unfortunately for the purveyors of violence, the Military refused to accept the malicious rumour and proceeded with its discreet investigation to find out the truth," Enero said.
The group said it is not aware of any other contrary version of the cause of the present crisis.
Enero said it is condemnable and irrational for normal human beings to act in such wicked and evil manner.
Enero said the Tiv farmers Jukun youths have continued to attack and render homeless in their ancestral abodes have done nothing wrong to warrant such violence on their communities.
"We believe it is the error of judgment of this statement from Danjuma by Jukun youths that has led to the present crisis. Perhaps, the alleged killing of the military officer by Jukun youths was their idea of self-defence as propagated by Danjuma," Enero said.
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According to Enero, Danjuma has lived his life and it is extremely farcical for him to continue to supervise the massacre of Tiv people for whatever reason.
He said it is not befitting of a man of his status and that he (Danjuma) must not reward Nigeria for making him what his is today, in this negative manner.
Enero said: "The time for Danjuma to speak to his conscience is now. His intentional silence, as an elder statesman since the current violence on Tiv farmers in Wukari and Ukum LGAs broke out are pointers to his endorsement of it. MBCG views his inaction as contempt for the peace, unity and security of Nigeria."
"We therefore call on African Union (AU), the United Nations (UN) and World leaders to sanction General TY Danjuma. They should prevail on him to stop colluding with the militias of his kinsmen to exterminate the Tiv people of Taraba and Benue states," he added.
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported the government of Taraba state headed by Darius Ishaku, on Monday, March 11, announced a dusk-to-dawn curfew on Jalingo, the state capital just days after the governorship election.
A statement by the governor’s chief press secretary, Hassan Mijinyawa, announced that the curfew, which is indefinite, would take effect from Monday, March 11, 2019, until further notice.
The statement, however, said INEC officials, key agents of political parties and observers involved in the collation of election results would be exempted.
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Source: Legit.ng
