Protesters burn Benue monarch’s home

Angry protesters in Turan, Benue State, on Wednesday, set fire to the residence of His Royal Highness Simon Baver, the Mue Ter Ichongo of Turan in Kwande Local Council.

This incident, which happened as Nigerians marked Independence Day, followed the alleged extra-judicial killing of a man by soldiers.

The unrest was triggered by an incident on Monday when Nigerian Army personnel stationed in Jato Aka, a community hosting many internally displaced persons, allegedly opened fire on a group of mourners returning from the burial of Chief Hanave Laha, the Kindred Head of Nzaav.

According to an eyewitness, Iorkohol Asemave, who spoke to The Guardian, the victim, identified as Mr Iorsuur, was hit by a bullet and died instantly.

It was also gathered that a student of Government Science Secondary School, Jato Aka, identified as Iorfa, was also struck but survived with injuries after he was rushed to NKST General Hospital, Jato Aka, where he is receiving treatment.

Witnesses further alleged that soldiers removed Iorsuur’s body from the scene and took it to an undisclosed location.

When contacted for comment, the Public Relations Officer of the Special Forces, Captain Abdullahi Lawal Osabo, said he was on leave at the time of the incident and could not speak on the matter. Calls to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, and the Director-General of the Bureau for Homeland Security, Air Commodore Jacob Gbamwuan (rtd), were not answered.

Residents of Jato Aka told The Guardian that commercial activities in the town had ground to a halt as heavily armed soldiers patrolled the streets in gun trucks.

As of press time, the Benue State government had yet to issue an official statement on the incident.