Security
Ukpute/Bonta Crisis: Urgent Intervention Required Over Fear Of Genocide in The Benue Communities
The people of Ukpute, a little-known settlement in Oju local government area of Benue state, fear for the worst in the face of the hydra-headed clash between the Community and the Bonta Community of Konshisha LGA also of the state.
The communal clash, which first came to world attention in July 2021, has now snowballed into a lingering expansionist annexation of minority land in Benue State, now taking a more dangerous and genocidal dimension.
This is according to the Ukpute Youth Leader, Mike Ube, in a Statement made available to TV360.
The Statement expresses concern over the complexion of the crisis just as it gives an insight into the main issue of disagreement.
The Statement reads in part:
“The renewed unprovoked attacks on our community, Ukpute in Oju LGA by Bonta Tiv militias of Konshisha LG started over a week ago and there has not been any sign that the crisis will be over soon.
“The attacks are simply aimed at preventing the long awaited reopening of the boundaries between the two communities of Bonta and Ukpute which the State Government commenced a few weeks ago.
“The crisis is now slipping out to genocidal proportion as mobilization for further attacks has been extended to the 14 LGAs of the Tiv speaking majority ethnic group in the State.
“Intelligence revealed that truck-load of fighters have been pulling out of different LGs in Tiv land towards Konshisha (Bonta) to unleash mayhem on us.
“We were shocked yesterday (15/7/24) when the Commissioner of Police in the State invited us to Tse Agbaragba, the Hdqrs of the aggressor LG for what he called peace meeting without first deploying his men to the crisis point to prevent further onslaught.
“Caught in the webs of apprehension we could not attend the meeting as we are yet to recover from the shock of the gruesome murder of 12 soldiers and an Officer of the Nigeria Army by the same Bonta people about 2 years ago during similar attacks on us.
“We are calling on all stakeholders within and outside Benue State to urgently come to our rescue before we are wiped out. The Ruanda experience should not be allowed in Nigeria.
“Please, save our lives 🙏,” the Statement appeals.
