Killing of 40: Benue group urges FG to intervene

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

A group known as Shitile Development Association (SDA), Makurdi branch in Benue State has passsionately appealed to the Federal Government to intervene in the area over the recent killing of 40 people in different places of Shitile, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of the state.
In a letter of intervention written to the state government and signed by its President, Door Samuel and Secretary General, Zuai Ephraim, the group called on the Federal Goverment to rescue the people by intervening without delay to save them from the calamity which had befallen them.
They said the lingering and sporadic killings which had bedeviled the Shitile people and land in communities within Kastina-Ala, Logo LGAs of Benue State and some parts of Taraba State had risen to an unbearable crescendo in the past two weeks.
“These wanton killings are now being orchestrated with reckless abandon and mostly at night. Most disturbing also, is the fact that the identity of the perpetrators is hardly known nor the reason for their actions disclosed.
“Though due to the fear of general insecurity, it is difficult to move from village to village to gather exact statistics, hordes of lives have been horrendously eliminated in several villages across the land such that the whole land is thrown into wailing and mourning,” the group stated.
They further explained that after the dust settled on the June 4 shooting by gunmen at Imande Mbakange village market in Mbacher council ward, a total of 28 people were killed occasioned by corpses picked up at different points.
The group added that on the same day, in Michihe council ward, six other people were slaughtered while another six on same night were killed at Achamegh village, Mbagene Kpav, bringing the total number of those killed to 40 in just one night.
They however lamented the situation of three others badly injured during the attacks who are now receiving treatment in the hospital and the destruction of houses as well as valuables in affected places.
“As these barbaric acts continue, our helpless people who escaped death are fleeing the land, deserting their homes and farmlands for safety. We observe sadly also that, as our people are fleeing, herders are occupying these areas and grazing freely on our farms,” the group posited.