From Henry Ibya, Makurdi
Group under the auspices of Association of United Farmers Benue- Valley has called on the federal government to prevail on the Nasarawa State government to release about 234 corpses of IDPs gruesomely murdered in separate incidents including the June 26 barbaric killings in Keana Local Government.
Addressing journalists during a press conference in Makurdi, yesterday, President of AUFBV, Dennis Gbongbon blamed government of Nasarawa state for maintaining silence in the face the ethnic cleansing.
He said farmers perpetually operate under dehumanizing conditions, visited with violence, marginalized, discriminated upon, forcefully disposed and ejected from their ancestral homes where bandits are there after camped to unleash mayhem on members,a scenario the group alleged is masterminded by Nasarawa state, CP Shehu Nadada, his DCP in charge of CID, Sen. Mohammed Onawo, Nass. Member- Hassan Naralaba, Margaret Elayo, Usman Dodo, Chiefs of Kadarko, Adu and Gambo aka forester, among others.
Gbongbon who is demanding for justice during the press conference called for the immediate release, either alive or dead, bodies of over 234 IDPs abducted or killed in Keana township on 26,27,28,29 and 30th June more than six months after the incident.
AUFBV equally demanded excavation of corpses of two students killed and dumped inside various wells in Keana LGA by a senior staff of FGGC, for normal burial rights and the staff to justify his action.
The president also demanded the excavation of the head of Mre. Yavihi Zeger, killed and beheaded, release corpses of 3 ex- service corps members and a female serving corps member who hailed from Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, allegedly abducted and killed by Gamba Robelt, Oga Kasima, Joseph Moi, Eladoga Keana, Garba Pape Robert as well as fishout perpetrators from their hideout.
It urged the federal government during the press conference to recover the sum of N399,550,600 million and N990,600,000 million worth of market loots in Keana market belonging to farmers which occurred on 4 May, as well as recover the sum of N5 billion from Professor Allahranna Otaki, Idris Mohammed, Abdullahi Amegwa, released by the federal government to support rehabilitation of farmers Internally Displaced in Keana, Obi and Doma LGAs since 2018, misappropriated with impunity.
The group equally called on governments of Nasarawa, Benue and the international community,to with immediate effect provide social welfare means to aid relief from economic hardship,empower the vulnerable women and provide scholarship to orphans, disarm and redeploy the armed bandits LUKURAWA,as well as stop land grabbing.
AUFBV also recommended sack of the minister of state education for involvement in killings and invasion of property, Chairman, Police Service Commission,DIG Hashimu Argungu RTD for conspiracy and shielding of CP Umar Nadada and others to escape justice.
