Benue Christmas Attack Victims Buried

The Kwande Traditional Council has conducted a mass burial for victims of the Christmas day attack by armed bandits suspected to be marauding herdsmen.

The traditional council, which was led by the district head of  Ityuluuv’ James Yengen and the president of Nyiev Tyev, Dr Joseph Akanyi, prayed to God to console and comfort the families of those who lost their loved ones in the attack.

They commended the Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia and the Kwande local government chairman Terhile Neji for their support to the families of the victims to bury their loved ones.

According to them, “For over twelve years now, our people have been killed by these marauding herdsmen who are mostly coming from Taraba and Cameroon borders. We can no longer access our farms, all our health facilities are being destroyed, our children are no longer going to school, and our worship centres are all destroyed. Our people are exposed to the worst health conditions, no drinking water and even shelters for the displaced populations.”

While calling on the government to provide border security patrol to control the criminal activities at borders between Kwande and Taraba, Kwande and Cameroon, as well as a permanent mobile camp and health clinics at strategic areas for easy accessibility, the leaders also appealed for the construction of a road from Nyihemba to join the river at their border with Cameroon.

“We are also appealing to the governor of Benue State to provide appointments to members of the crisis-affected area to avoid over-dependence on government.”

Earlier, the youth leader of Nyiev Tyiev, Tersoo Dondon, appealed to the youths in the attacked areas not to seek vengeance, calling on the government at all levels to ensure that the perpetrators of the dastardly act are brought to book.