By Atondu Titus, Makurdi
Amidst killings, kidnappings, armed robbery and other criminal activities, a violent protest erupted in Ukum Local Government Area, Benue State on 3rd July, 2024. The protesters, though repelled by men of the Nigeria Police on duty, following an attempt to invade Ukum Police Division Headquarter nevertheless destroyed both government and personal property.
It is understood that the protest was occasioned by the killing of six persons at Ayati community by suspected bandits, a day earlier.
A dusk to dawn curfew has been imposed on Ukum by the Benue State Government. On 29th December, 2020, the Benue State Security Council slammed the ban on operation of motorcycles in Katsina-Ala and Ukum LGAs, imposing a dusk to dawn curfew in addition. This came following nearly daily reports of killings and other elements of criminality and banditry in the two LGAs.
Though not independently verified, the following locations were torched in the course of the protest. They are: Ukum Local Government Secretariat; Ukum Local Government Guest House; Magistrate Court; Government Science and Technical College; Federal Road Safety Office; Benue Internal Revenue Service (BIRS) Office; Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office – all at Sankera, Ukum Local Government Headquarter -; Police Station, Zaki Biam; Benue Links Vehicle; and the Divisional Agriculture office. Other property destroyed include the residence of District Head, Borikyo; house of the Chief of Staff to Benue State Governor; his hotel; his staff quarters; Unity Bank; Access Bank; and UBA.
According to information by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Benue State Command, SP Sewuese Anene, the protest was “obviously sponsored by criminals to unleash mayhem on the people and destabilise security network that has prevented them from operating freely in the area especially with recent successful operations that dislodged several bandit camps in the last two months.”
However, locals say the protest was an expression of frustration and anger by a people that have for too long suffered the pangs of insecurity and neglect.
Ukum LGA shares boundary line with Taraba State and has experienced waves of both cross border attacks and from internal bandits and remains the most turbulent of the three LGAs that make up the federal constituency: Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo (Sankera) Federal Constituency.
Solomon Wombo, who represents the federal constituency, in condemning the “violent and criminal attacks in Zaki Biam,” noted that “we cannot survive as a people if we continue along this path of self-destruction.”
While conceding to the right to protest, Rep Wombo further “condemns the hoodlums that hijacked the peaceful protest of family members and women over incessant killings to the Ukum Local Government Headquarters at Sankera to unleash arson and destruction of properties during which more lives were lost.”
A statement by Rep Wombo’s Personal Assistant on Media, Kosuior Nathaniel, puts the figure of those killed at nine and quotes the federal lawmaker as calling on “security agencies to ensure the perpetrators of these heinous crimes are brought to book and as well redouble their determined efforts to curtail the recurrent killings in Sankera axis.”
The insecurity situation in Sankera does not start today. In 2001, in what was reported by the international media as the Zaki Biam massacre, hundreds of locals were killed with scores injured by Federal troops in what they regarded as a revenge mission. The military intervention was as a result of the crises, which sparked up in Taraba State and spiralled into Benue.
Local security experts say that would mark the escalation of insecurity in Sankera, with later day criminal gang leaders including the dreaded Terwase Akwaza a.k.a Gana, who was killed by federal troops in September 2020.
SP Anene, earlier mentioned, says “the turbulence” in Sankera “increased after the death of the dreaded popular Gana and Ukum has attracted the highest deployment of security agents in the state. The deployment is made to curtail activities of bandits that are found in three LGAs; Ukum, Logo and Kastina-Ala collectively called Sankera axis.”
While others blame politicians for banditry in Sankera, others have reason to think that economy is at the heart of crime in the area. There is also another school of thought that reasons that neglect and or abandonment of rural dwellers is at the heart of insecurity.
According to Benue’s famous community journalist, Denen Achussah, “We may wish to keep blaming politicians. But the truth is that we’ve failed ourselves by refusing to speak up, by refusing to act and when we want to speak or act, our actions defy sound reasoning.”
He reasons that deliberate actions must be taken “to open our rural economy, provide amenities and critical infrastructure to the rural populace, where the food we consume comes from” while avoiding the status quo of picking townspeople to draft friends and impose them, to the chagrin of the rural people.
President, Ngenev Development Association, Sankera, Hon. Linus Wuam Madugu, condemns “in totality the barbaric act of killings, arson, extortion and thievery carried out against the peace loving people of Ngenev District in Ukum Local Government Area by hoodlums.”
He added in a statement that “it is surprising that a group of persons without focus will be sponsored by focus-less people to do a thing like this.”
A visit to the affected areas reveals pains, anguish and despair. At the local markets these local farmers are sometimes made to pay revenue even before they make sales. And it is not always when they take these goods to the market that they make sales. These and more are the reason a call for attention on improving the local economy is most welcome.
Ukum State Constituency representative, Hon Ezra Nyiyongo said after a meeting with stakeholders that “each of the distinguished denizens mounted with sincere intentions of engaging in discourse over matters of import, ranging from community interest and development to the intricate web of politics and security.”
Hon Nyiyongo, who extends his “heartfelt empathy to all the victims impacted by these unfortunate events,” noted that “security was crucial in our discussion during the stakeholder’s engagement.”
‘According to the lawmaker, “every well-meaning man and woman in Ukum is now resolute about the security of lives and property. I believe this is the climax, the juncture of spiritual awakening, a moment of divine grace and intervention.”
In a motion of urgent public importance, moved on the floor of the Benue State Assembly, Hon Nyiyongo, while commending Governor Hyacinth Alia, “for prompt intervention,” called on the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to send relief materials to the affected areas and it was so resolved.
Rights lawyer, Ayati Orlu Bem, while reacting to the torching of the house of Chief of Staff to the Governor, Paul Biam, following the recent attacks say “where the commoners are not secured, no one is really safe, including ‘big’ men, no matter how big they are.”
He however commends Governor Alia, “For finally taking practical, positive steps towards curbing insecurity in Sankera – by donating 50 motorcycles and 23 Toyota Hilux vans to security operatives to ease their movement in Sankera.”
Few days before the Ukum attack, Senator Emmanuel Udende, Benue North, at a Town Hall meeting at Afia, Ukum LGA charged traditional rulers, elders, youth and women to consider insecurity in the area and think of ways to checking. According to the Senator Udende, insecurity is hindering development in the area as it puts fears into the minds of contractors.
Reacting to the 3rd July protest and killings, Senator Udende, through his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Jerry Iorngaem, “called on the angry people of Ukum to sheath their sword on the destruction spree witnessed in the last 48 hours, stressing that such actions will not provide any solution.”
According to the statement, incessant killings in the area have reached an alarming degree and that security operatives must step in to save the lives of the people and their properties.
Senator Udende expresses sadness that despite concerted efforts including his motion on the same subject matter that gave rise to consolidation of many similar motions forwarded to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for implementation of a lasting solution, the killings have remained unabated.
While consoling the families of the deceased, the lawmaker reassured his constituent’s that he will continue to draw attention of the Federal Government to these barbaric acts of taking lives at will and ensure that adequate measures are put in place to forestall further occurrences.
The paramount ruler of the Tiv kingdom, Prof James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, Tor Tiv, is worried over the destruction of lives and property in Zaki Biam by the angry youth, appealing to “political and community leaders in the Sankera axis of his kingdom to see the need to come together and amicably resolve their differences to restore peace in the area.”
The Tor Tiv who condemned in strong terms the carnage stressed that the wanton destruction of lives and property in Zaki Biam has rather reduced the development and prosperity of the area as well as created a negative impression of the hitherto boisterous economic backbone of Benue that earned the State the acclaimed titled of the Food Basket of the Nation.
Special Adviser to the Tor Tiv on media, Freddie Adamgbe, told this medium that despite efforts made to restore peace in Sankera the criminality persisted, conveying the assurances of the Tiv Area Traditional Council in partnership with the Benue State Government, to employ all possible ways to stop further occurrence of mayhem in the area.
As earlier mentioned, the insecurity in Sankera is not new. At the renewed killings, sources that prefer anonymity said two things are responsible: One, the murder of Terwase Akwaza a.k.a Gana by the Nigerian Special Forces and two, that the outlaws are tagged bandits and or militia, having helped politicians win elections. There is also a struggle over control of revenue in markets.
But Katsina-Ala, Zaki Biam, Ugba, which are council headquarters and semi-urban areas, Sankera is largely a rural area. Over 90 percent of the population depends on agriculture and agriculture related activities with the remaining 10 per cent engaging in other sectors of the economy.
The activities of these outlaws have significantly affected food production and the general economy of the areas.
Meanwhile, Governor Alia, in an address to the people of the state following the 3rd July protest, says his “administration may no longer guarantee the olive branch” extended to “youths who have chosen to reside in the forests and continually launch attacks on innocent citizens.”
According to Fr. Alia, his administration, since inception has put several efforts in place to eliminate the activities of bandits.
In that state-wide broadcast, Fr. Alia noted: “I assure you that I have listened. The mayhem caused by these heinous acts of violence has not gone unnoticed and I stand with you in condemning these atrocities. Full military intervention has been ordered. My heart goes out to the three soldiers and two police officers who were wounded in the line of duty protecting lives and properties of citizens in Sankera. They have all been treated and discharged. I had earlier in the day directed the Deputy Governor, who had visited and carried out on-the-spot assessment of the scenes of these devastating destructions.
“However, let me make it clear that while we empathise with the pain and frustration felt, we must channel our energies towards constructive actions. Destruction of public property and chaos only serve to compound our challenges and divert resources that could be better used to address the root causes of these issues.
“Our administration is unwavering in its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all residents in Benue State. We are intensifying our efforts in collaborating with the security agencies to bring the perpetrators of these violent and criminal acts to justice. Already, we have started getting positive results. We are also working on preventive measures to ensure such incidents do not reoccur, now or in future.
“Development remains at the forefront of our agenda. Despite the challenges we face, we are committed to attracting and bringing forth development to all parts of Benue State. We understand that peace and security are the bedrock of development and we will leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of a safe and prosperous Benue State.
“To our dedicated workers, your welfare remains a top priority of our administration. We recognise the sacrifices you make daily and we are committed to ensuring that your rights and well-being are protected. We will continue to implement policies that support your growth, development and overall welfare.
“I appeal to the good people of Sankera and its environs to remain calm and exercise restraint. Let us work together to rebuild our communities and restore peace. Your government is here for you and we are committed to addressing your concerns with urgency and diligence.”
The governor admonished the people not to “allow the actions of a few to destabilise us. We will not sit back and allow anyone or a group to frustrate the peace of the State and destabilise the government of Benue State. To this end, our government will in the next few days, set up a commission of enquiry to investigate the remote and immediate causes of this mayhem. Additionally, more actions will be taken to demonstrate our unwavering commitment to bringing these retrogressive activities to a total end.”