Benue IDPs killed in Taraba buried amid tears

No fewer than Four Tiv internally displaced persons (IDPs) killed by suspected Jukun militia were buried yesterday.

The victims, all males, returned to their Tor Iorshaegh village in Wukari Local Government Area (LGA) from a refugees’ camp in Benue State but were killed that same day.

The chairman, Tiv Cultural Association, Taraba State, Mr Joshua Ayagwa, told newsmen that gunmen attacked the returnees in their village.

He said a delegation from the state government attended the funeral.

He said Governor Darius Ishaku had sent relief materials to the returnees and financial assistance to families of the four persons killed.

The president expressed dismay over the absence of the chairman of Wukari LGA at the burial.

He called on the Taraba State government to provide adequate security in Tiv villages in the area to enable all displaced persons to return to their villages.

“What happened in Tor Iorshaegh village is very sad and will discourage displaced persons from returning to their villages,” he said.

Mr Ayagwa said the Tiv refugees who had been in Benue camps for the past one and a half years, were eager to return to their villages and towns because of suffering in camps.

He commended Governor Ishaku for approving the return of all refugees to their places of abode and asked for provision of security to safeguard their lives and property.

The chairman of Wukari LGA, Mr Adi Grace Daniel, neither answered calls nor replied