Tiv lawyers move to sue Nigerian army over ‘killings’ in Benue

The umbrella body of Tiv Lawyers worldwide, Ayatutu, Ayatutu lawyers Forum, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently constitute a Panel of Inquiry to investigate alleged atrocities by the Army in Konshisha and Gwer East Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Benue State.

It threatened legal action against the military if the panel failed to bring to book persons involved in the gross violation of fundamental rights of the civilian population in these areas.

The army has since April 8, 2021 been combing the Tiv communities of Adoka, Agidi, Agune, Awajir, Bonta, Gbinde, Guleya, Gungul and Ullam in both LGAs following the killing of 11 soldiers.

In a statement, Ayatutu lawyers Forum condemned the unlawful killing of soldiers but lamented the “disproportionate” military deployment and alleged subsequent attacks on, “killings” and displacement of civilians in Adoka, Agidi, Agune, Awajir, Bonta, Gbinde, Guleya, Gungul and Ullam in Konshisha and Gwer East Local Governments.

According to it, the military action has continued with the Army High Command vowing not to relent until the alleged killers of the soldiers are apprehended.

The Army, last week, denied attacking innocent civilians, stating that its operation is to fish out the criminals.

But the Tiv lawyers disagreed, saying the Department of State Security (DSS), Department of Military Intelligence (DMI) State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) and others who are trained to do discreet investigation should have been allowed to unravel whatever crime was committed