Fabmimi News: [Photos]..DEPLOYMENT OF SOLDIERS TO ABAJI-KPAV, TOR DONGA AND GBISE TOWNS:THE WORRISOME POSTURE OF BENUE STATE GOVERNMENT-AONDOVER UTSAHA

The already restive village of Gbise and its environs was yesterday morning, August 6, 2016 thrown into further restiveness, chaos and pandemonium, albeit in a different form and by different agents. While the existing restiveness was as a result of consistent violent attacks on defenseless and unarmed farmers, women and children by 'Libyan Herdsmen', the restiveness this morning was occasioned by the intention of the Benue State Government to fish out Terwase Akwaza, alias Gana.

The only official narrative thus far advanced came from through the Acting Secretary to The State Government, Mr. Bem Meladu stating thus: "the operation was approved by the State Security Council..." He stated further that it became necessary that the joint operation be carried out following refusal by Terwase Akwaza to report to the law enforcement agents and answer on charges of armed robbery, kidnappings and murder, to include the most recent murder of Mr. Denen Igbana, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security.

While the need for the joint security operation to fish out Terwase Akwaza may have been well intentioned, it has in turn given rise to a lot of unanswered questions begging for answers:

1. If the Executive Governor could immediately convene a security meeting leading to the deployment of soldiers for the sole reason of arresting a single individual, why has the entire government been incapacitated in the continuous invasion of the state by 'Libyan Herdsmen'; an invasion which usually results in the mindless slaughtering of defenseless farmers, women and children?

2. Whereas some of the Northern Governors facing security challenges in various forms had sought and gotten succor from the military, why has it become almost impossible for our amiable governor to make and obtain results from similar requests up until now?

3. Has the arrest and incarceration of one man and/or his activities become more important than the lives of a collective people? Why has his arrest become more important, thereby leading to a deployment of detachment of military personnel for such a purpose, and to the detriment of the livelihood or existence of entire community?

4. Recently, the Governor stated rightly that he does not possess the powers to deploy a single policeman to crises affected areas. At what point did the narrative change in such a way that the state security council, headed by the same governor suddenly got powers and deployed military personnel to Gbise?

5. The Minister of Internal Affairs, Lt. Gen. Abdurrahman Dambazzau (Rtd) said recently that the herdsmen/farmers' crises did not require the deployment of soldiers. According to the Minister, the police is capable of tackling the crises, and their efforts, where not enough, could easily be complemented by those of the Nigeria Security & Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). While we do not hold briefs for Gana or indeed any other person the state classifies as a security risk, we will love to know if there was any attempt or indeed evidence that the police were/would be overwhelmed in arresting Gana. Assuming without conceding that perhaps there is such evidence, what scientific parameters were used in assessing such evidence and drawing up conclusions? And more importantly, were the same parameters ever used in the cases of the persisting herdsmen invasion to reveal that the police were still in absolute control of the situation?

6. The loud silence of almost all legislators and executive members over these unnecessary killings and destruction of farmlands and property cannot be explained either. Is this supposed to be a conspiracy of silence by the political leaders against the Tiv people of Nigeria?

For how long would we stop irrigating our farms using the blood of our kinsmen shed for daring to inhabit a God-given land; for how long would the decomposing bodies of our people cease to serve as fertilizer for crops or tubers already planted; for how long would the sound of gunfire continue to torment the lives of the already traumatic; for how long would we continue to perceive the smell of gun powder as a result of bullets already expended in snuffing out lives that once were; for how long would we continue to tremble even at the slightest movement or noise of leaves, mistaking such as a sign of visit by the merchants of death; and for how long would we continue to fear to or suspend sleep for the fear of dying? On the appropriate day of reckoning, we shall ask all these questions and answers must be availed.

As for the hypocrisy of Benue State government, we advise that they look for another dummy to sell to the people, and this time around, they should endeavor to try something more intelligent.