At least three persons were reportedly killed on Wednesday in Jootar, a border settlement between Benue and Taraba States by people suspected to be Jukun militia.
According to a source, the militia stormed the border community at about 4:00am through Wukari and started shooting sporadically.
The source added that the latest attack also claimed over 100 houses burnt or destroyed during the attack while properties destroyed were worth millions of Naira.
Explaining further, he said the militia operated unchallenged for about 3 hours even as federal government special forces are stationed in Wukari , 2 Kilometers away from the attacked Community.
Reacting to the urgly incidence, Ukum local Government caretaker chairman, Hon Tortyokaa Ibellogo condemned the attack saying it was most unfortunate.
He wondered why the militia will cross over to Benue where there is no crisis, insisting that Tiv farmers in Benue were not at war with Jukums.
“To the best of my knowledge this is supposed to be a crisis between the Tiv and Jukum in Taraba state and has nothing to do with Benue.
“In my state Benue, we have Jukum in Abintse and Wurukum in Guma and Makurdi living peacefully with the Tiv people”
“I want to call on the Inspector General Of Police (IGP), the Chief of army staff and president of Nigeria, (Muhammadu Buhari) to as a matter of urgency intervene in this crisis.
“Already we are trying to maintain a social distance to face the COVID-19 pandemic which has affected Benue, Nigeria and the entire world.” Ibellogo concluded.
