Benue community raises alarm over alleged demand of #20M by armed Militias as due

From Attah Ede Makurdi

The Members of Torough community in Ukum local government area of Benue State, on Tuesday, raised the alarm over alleged demand of twenty million naira by armed militias as due from the community.

The Nations News Nigeria reports that the community is calling for help to prevent the armed militia gang operating in the Sankara axis from invading the area.

Investigation revealed that the members of the community have since divided the money among themselves and had commenced payments to avoid possible invasion of the community by the armed bandits.

It was further gathered that some members of the community had their livestocks seized from them by the militias when the message was delivered by the local warlords.

A 56 year old man from the Torough community who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of attack and that of his family members being killed, told our correspondent that members of the community had no option but to comply with the militia demand.

“Some of us have to contact our relatives in the cities discreetly to receive the money and pay on time.Nobody in the village including our village head would dare not report the matter to the security so as not to anger the local warlords.

“We are more or less in bondage here. There is no complete freedom of movement, association or expression. These militia boys are very deadly and powerful here in our Sankara axis.

“The whole of three local governments in Sankara(Ukum, Logo and Katsina-Ala) are affected by this madness. These boys have a very strong communication network for their business. They monitor everything.

“So when the news about payment of the N20m came to us, nobody dared report it to security agencies. Because if you do, you and your family will be eliminated from the surface of the earth in broad daylight. We are in bondage. The security operatives too are helpless.

“We are paying the N50,000 levied by each household. Some traditional compounds that have many households are levied N1m.”he said

The source regretted that even when they sold their farm produce the militias collected the proceeds.

According to him, most times after they kill your loved one, they will still tax the family of the deceased to pay for their bullets and pay for the burial permission fee before the burial can be conducted.

However, when contacted, the Benue State Police Command denied knowledge of the entire development.

The command Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) SP Sewuese Anene who spoke to newsmen in Makurdi, said if such happened, it was not reported to the command.

in a swift reaction, the caretaker committee chairman of Ukum LGC, Mr. Victor Iorzaa confirmed the development to newsmen on phone in Makurdi,

He said that it is true armed militia gang are demanding for N20m from Torough community and that, he has reported the matter to the police and the State security council in Makurdi.

“I have reported the matter to police and also the state security council. The person behind it is Full Fire, he was the person that connived with Fulani recently to attack Tiv people and has been working with Fulanis people. He is a bandit” he noted.

Also, Joseph Har, Special Adviser to the governor on Internal Security said bandits were on the run in the State and could not have the luxury of collecting tax from the villagers.

Har said the Gov Hyacinth Alia’s administration was doing everything possible to mitigate activities of bandits, kidnappers, militias amongst others in the State.