Few days ago, the Benue State Government suspended three traditional rulers in Kastina-Ala Local Government Area following the continued crisis that has claimed many lives. The suspended monarchs include two third-class chiefs from Katsina-Ala, Chief Tivlumun Ubugh, the Mue Ter Chongo and Chief Ayoleve Ornguga, the Mue Ter Ipusu. The district head of Mbacher, Chief Luke Atomigba, was also suspended. They were suspended over their alleged roles in the prolonged crisis between Shitile and Ikyurav people.
Unfortunately, the action of the state government was preceded by fresh killings at a wake-keep in the area last weekend. Gunmen who rode on motorcycles opened fire on mourners. The police public relations officer, Benue State command, DSP Catherine Anene, had put the death toll at nine, but some locals argued that at least 25 people were killed in the three villages affected.
Daily Trust on Sunday gathered that the latest tension and violence between Ikyurav and Shitile might be the outcome of the struggle for supremacy between rival gangs operating in the communities.
It was learnt that the troubled communities, which also include 13 districts in Ukum Local Government Area, are strongholds of the suspected criminal kingpin, Terwase Akwaza, popularly known as Gana.
The cordial relationship between the administration of Governor Samuel Ortom and the suspected bandits was strained following a breach of the amnesty granted them in 2015.
In February 2018, the Benue State Security Council declared the suspected bandits wanted and increased a possible reward for whoever volunteered information for the arrest of Gana from N10million to N50million.
Consequently, insecurity in the area assumed a frightening dimension when the suspected bandits allegedly fell out with a faction Gana was said to have personally trained, over ‘revenue’ control of the areas under siege.
A local who spoke to our correspondent on anonymity said, “Gana has recruited ‘boys’ from these areas and personally trained them. Some of his loyalists rebelled and wanted to be on their own so that they would be collecting all the revenues generated in the areas. That is what the problem is all about,’’ he said, warning severally that his name should not be mentioned in print.
Another local source, who equally declined to mention his name, added that in a bid to force residents to do their bidding, the suspected criminals resorted to killings, kidnapping, robbery and all manners of illegality. He noted that the activities of the dreaded boys, who seem to have divided the control of the affected areas among themselves, gradually turned the area into a shadow of itself.
“The Kastina-Ala -Takum road is now forbidden for travellers. The College of Education in Kastina-Ala is already at the brink of closure while many people have relocated to safer towns.
“Even traditional rulers are not spared. At least four of them have been killed in recent times. In fact, the boys are notorious, to the extent that they can bury their victims alive if ransoms are not paid for their release,’’ our source said.
The suspected criminals are said to have constituted themselves into an authority in the affected areas, to the extent that they appointed their own traditional rulers, who in turn generate revenue for them.
Speaking to our correspondent, a local council worker alleged that recognised traditional rulers in the affected communities are so afraid that they cannot mention the name of the suspected kingpin, even in privacy, because they could be tracked and killed at anytime.
“That is why many of the traditional rulers in the affected areas now live outside their palaces. The real monarchs can’t operate in the domains of Gana’s chiefs. They are even afraid to mention his name. The suspected criminals have killed three chiefs and a district head in the area.
“It is so bad that children no longer go to school. On market days, traders are made to surrender all their monies as offering, along the path roads to the agents of the kingpin or they could be killed. Countless motorcycles and cars are seized from their owners on the roads in the affected area,’’ the council worker alleged.
According a statement by the governor’s media aide, Terver Akase, among other things, the Security Council directed that all the district heads from the area, who declined the invitation to attend a meeting with Tor Sankera, Chief Abu King Shuluwa, would be queried.
Security agencies were also directed to go after criminal elements responsible for the unrest in the area, as well as arrest and prosecute any politician found culpable. The governor appealed to people of Katsina-Ala to go about their normal businesses without fear of molestation.
It would be recalled that in April this year, the Benue State Government had imposed a 24-hour curfew on Katsina-Ala town after five more people were killed in a communal violence.
