It will be recalled that there has been crisis in Ityo i Mu area of Benue State for some time now. Several houses were set ablaze while some were knocked down, with about 5 people reportedly killed as an outcome of the crises.
The crisis was triggered by land disputes.
It was also reported that so many of our ‘Kparev’ brothers were displaced, and to this day they do not have access to their homes or farmlands.
I do not, as yet know, whether the crisis has been resolved. So when I read of an alleged attack on the governor’s ‘convoy,’ meanwhile another report has it that he was shot at on his ‘farm’ in the same location – Ityo i Mu, it further raised more questions in my mind.
For instance, I am curious to know when the governor acquired the farmland and how many hectares are we talking about here? Did the governor acquire the land before, during or after the crisis and displacement of our ‘Kparev’ brothers?
What has been the security situation in Ityo i Mu generally before this incident? I think it is safe to say that Ityo i Mu has been a security flash point with its attendant challenges for some time now.
I would like to also remember that Governor Ortom had visited an Ethanol producing plant in the same area sometime last week, during which time he was said to have “forgiven” the factory owners for failure to comply with certain procedures for setting up a factory in Benue. We were however, not told of the nature of the non-compliance and or the nature of procedural breaches before the “forgiveness.”
This company, it will be recalled according to the same report, acquired 25.4? hectares of land for the factory. It will be interesting to know if people were living on this 25.4 hectares of land before its acquisition, or if it was just a vast uninhabited space?
However, if there were land and property owners living there it would also be nice to know if they were compensated and fairly too, before the takeover of their land. It will be nice to also know if the government has issued them with a RofO or a CofO, and if the factory building plan was approved and by who? Was there any EIA before the company started work on site?
Lastly, it will equally be nice if we are informed or told of the security agents’ immediate response during and after the attack.
The governor’s security is usually made up of fully armed DSS and Mobile Police, and the regular police. Did they return fire when the governor came under fire?
How did the ‘Fulani militia dressed in black’ know that the governor will be on his farm on that day and at that time, or have they been lying in wait for the governor for some time, knowing that he frequents his farm?
If the gunmen were identified as “Fulani militia dressed in black”, it means they most likely were at some close range for them to be seen. If so, why or how come none of them was taken down or inflicted with gunshot injuries?
The governor also said he ran for over “1.5km” to safety. The question then is, towards which direction did he run? Keep in mind that there’s an Air Force base in 3 to 5 kilometers away from where he was attacked.
Was the base commander of the Nigerian Airforce called and requested to mobilize support to go after the attackers? I am aware that the Airforce has ground special forces too in addition to their air power.
Any alleged attack against or on the governor must not, and should not be taken lightly by all and sundry especially by the security agencies.
My sympathy is with the governor, his family and security team because of this attack.
Finally, I condemn in no unmistakable terms, this alleged attack on our governor, and urge the security agencies to leave no stone unturned, and try to unmask those behind this dastardly act and apprehend them and bring them to justice.
*Gambo, a political and social analyst, writes from Makurdi.
