Curfew in Benue to curb violent protests

A dusk-to-dawn curfew has been imposed on key towns in Nigeria’s Benue State to curb violent protests that erupted on Wednesday over reports that soldiers had rampaged through four communities, leaving scores of people dead. The curfew, authorised by Benue Governor George Akume, covers the capital Makurdi and Gboko, the second biggest town in the state and came on the heels of a security meeting chaired by the governor. “On the advice of the (state) security council, the Benue State government has with immediate effect, approved the imposition of curfew from 6 pm to 6 am in Makurdi and Gboko,” government spokesman B.O. Oche, said in a statement, “This is to forestall the activities of hoodlums in the two towns.” Earlier in the day, thousands of people had marched through the two towns in violent protests following reports that soldiers had attacked the Tiv communities of Zaki-Biam, Anyiin, Vatse and Gbeji in retaliation for the killing of 19 soldiers by a local militia two weeks ago. Officials in Ukum local government, where the communities are located, said 219 people were killed by the soldiers on Monday and Tuesday. The 19 soldiers were among troops deployed by President Olusegun Obasanjo’s federal government to the borders of Benue and Taraba states to end months of low level conflict between Tivs and their Jukun neighbours. A Tiv militia had ambushed and killed them on the suspicion that they were aiding their Jukun adversaries. People fleeing the settlements that have come under reprisal attacks said houses were being shelled while people were being rounded up and shot by the rampaging soldiers. Among the houses they reported destroyed was the country home of the former chief of staff of the army, Lieutenant-General Victor Malu, who is a Tiv. Human rights groups have denounced the actions of the soldiers and asked President Obasanjo to call them to order. The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) described the military attack on the settlements as “a crime against humanity”. “While we condemn the senseless killing of the 19 peacekeeping soldiers, we do not see this present act as capable of bringing about lasting peace in the area,” CLO said in its statement.