Troops of 93 Battalion of the Nigerian Army stationed in Takum,
Taraba, have arrested nine members of alleged sponsored armed militia
known as Civilian JTF at Arufu, a boundary town between Taraba and Benue.
A
top military source in Abuja,who confirmed the story to the News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN), said that at the time of arrest, five of them were armed with
AK-45 rifles fully loaded.
The
source said that shortly after their apprehension, a reinforcement of CJTF came
to prevent troops from transporting the suspects to the Battalion Headquarters.
“However,
when the soldiers stood their ground the armed militia’s reinforcement
withdrew.
“During
the preliminary investigation the arrested CJTF claimed that the weapons
were issued to them by Benue State government through one Alhaji Aliyu Tashaku.
“The
suspects also confirmed that they were 60 in number in their own camp located
at Gbeyi, Benue State.
“However,
further investigation revealed that they were more than 1,000 at the camp,
while over 700 of them bear arms,” the source said.
He
said that the suspects claimed they were being paid a monthly stipend of
N15,000 by the state government.
According
to him, they also alleged the state is owing them close to five months
salary.
“They
further revealed that they were trained by selected ex-service men
assembled from all over Benue State,” the source added.
However,
in its reaction the state government denied the claim
“We
wish to state categorically that the Benue State Government under Governor
Samuel Ortom has not recruited any militia group and armed them since the
Governor assumed office,’’ Mr Terver Akase the Chief Press Secretary to Gov
Samuel Ortom said on Tuesday in Makurdi.
.Akase
said in a statement that the governor was widely recognized for his
disarmament policy which brought the amnesty programme leading to the recovery
of about 700 arms and ammunition with over 800 youths laying down their weapons
to embrace the programme across the State.
“It
is also on record that the present administration inherited the State Civilian
Joint Task Force from the previous government but later proscribed it. ‘’
He
said following the enactment of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches
Establishment Law in the state last year, the government set up Livestock
Guards to help in implementation of the law.
“The
Livestock Guards are not armed personnel. Their job is to ensure compliance
with the regulation of ranches establishment and prohibition of open grazing of
animals in the State.
“The
Benue State Government believes in the use of conventional security agencies to
protect the people. Even in the face of renewed killing of innocent people by
herdsmen in Logo and Guma Local Government Areas, Governor Ortom did not let
the people resort to self help. The Governor acted swiftly to get the approval
of President Muhammadu Buhari for the deployment of more troops to troubled
parts of the State,’’ Akase said. (NAN)
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