By Amos Aar, Makurdi
SOME unknown gunmen have reportedly issued a 3-day ultimatum to residents of Torkula, a community in Guma LGA of Benue State to pack out of the area or they will attack them with hypersonic missiles.
Torkula Community is the home town of the late Tor Tiv, the Paramount Ruler of Tiv Nation, Chief Alfred Akawe Torkula, who was succeeded by the incumbent Tor Tiv, Orchivirigh Professor James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse.
According to a resident of the community who spoke with National Record correspondent on condition of anonymity said the suspected gunmen, which he described as ‘Fulani militia’, threatened that if the inhabitants did not vacate the area within the time given them, they will be attacked.
“The Fulani militia have given my community three days to vacate the area or be faced with hypersonic missiles. Right now our people are moving to IDP camps for fear of attack,” the source stated.
He further alleged conspiracy between the herders and the military, saying members of Operation Whirl Stroke in the area don’t show concern whenever the case is reported to them.
“The military is aware of this but seems not to be interested in our report. What is happening is a conspiracy of the highest order. God is watching,” he submitted.
There have been renewed herdsmen attacks on communities in Benue State especially those located in boundary areas with other states.
Unknown gunmen had in the early hours of Tuesday, 8th March, 2022, killed five (5) persons in Ahentse, Nzorov council ward of Guma LGA where the incumbent governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, hails from.
The unknown gunmen suspected to be herdsmen, struck again on Thursday, 10th March, 2022 at Iye, Uvir council ward of Guma LGA killing 8 people. Four persons were said to have been killed at Iye while four others (fishermen) at River Ake, Yelwata axis of the local government.
Gov. Samuel Ortom while reacting to the renewed attacks in a statement through his Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur, requested the federal government to intensify efforts in safeguarding the people on border areas.
“It is time the Federal Government further stepped up the military operations in states that share common boundaries with Benue State because these communities along the borders have become targets of the armed herders.
“It is time to end this unnecessary shedding of innocent blood. We can do it if we cooperate with each other.
“The situation where killer herdsmen take shelter with our neighbours, sneak in and kill our people without provocation will not be tolerated any longer. Let the security agencies continue to cooperate with us in Benue to end this bloodletting.
“Let us dislodge these invaders from wherever they may be hiding for peace to return to our communities
“It is no longer fashionable to continue to cry out for help. We must now be at alert and ready to confront these killers. This is another way we can assist the security agencies in combating this menace since they obviously overstretched beyond limits,” Ortom said.
