A non-governmental organization, the Vanguard Against Tiv Massacre (VATIM), has condemned what it described as the sustained military onslaught on communities in Benue State.
Some communities in Benue, particularly in Bonta, Tse Anyom, Agidi, Adoka, Agune, Awajir, Gbinde, Guleya, Gungul, Aku and Amande in Konshisha and Ullam and Tse Igbom in Gwer East local government areas, have reportedly been under sustained military action so since April 8, 2020, apparently as a reprisal for the earlier killing of military personnel deployed to the area to quell some inter-communal strife.
In a statement signed by its chairman, Stephen Aluor Agusah, and convener, Irene Awunah, VATIM condemned the “unjustifiable attack on and killing of soldiers” but noted that it was no justification for the military bombardment of so many villages stretching several kilometers from the alleged crime scene.
“The alleged action by the youths is reprehensible but not enough justification for the military bombardment of so many villages stretching several kilometers from the alleged crime scene, destroying homes and livelihoods and leaving many civilian residents homeless, without food and clothing,” it noted.
It also expressed concern about the involvement of soldiers and the militarisation of civil issues, saying that this was a case of inter-communal clash that could have been handled by relevant police departments, such as the mobile police unit.
“All over the world, collective punishment which targets family, friends and communities of suspected criminal elements is a violation of the laws relating to war, and is against the spirit and letters of the Third and Fourth Geneva Convention, Hague Regulations and several other military manuals worldwide, including Nigeria,” VATIM added.
It said it was, in fact, failure of intelligence on the part of the military to carry out bombardment of communities in the hope of smoking out criminals who may have fled the crime scene, as is typical of criminals.
It said: “The action, in our view, is in furtherance of the wrongly established military tradition of leveling down communities in revenge for infractions against their officers and men, as was the case in Zaki Biam in Benue State and Odi in Bayelsa State, many years back.
“The military have all intelligence apparatus they could have deployed in fishing out the criminal elements in collaboration with the DSS, CID and the locals, particularly the traditional institutions.
“This resort to self-help and jungle justice without regard for the rights of the people and the impact of the actions on their lives and livelihoods is barbaric and should not be condoned.”
It therefore called on the military to immediately cease the bombardment, and urged the federal government to investigate the immediate and remote reasons for the deployment of military troops for internal security duties, how they were overpowered and killed by civilians and the resort to bombardment of communities.
Membership of such an investigation panel, it said, should be comprised of traditional rulers and youth groups from both Okpute and Bonta communities and civil society organisations (CSOs).
It also called on traditional rulers in the affected communities to cooperate with security agencies in fishing out the killers of the military personnel.