Community closes case against Army, demands compensation

Moon community of Benue State has concluded its case against the Nigerian Army at the ongoing public sittings of the presidential panel of investigation reviewing compliance of the armed forces with human rights obligations and rules of engagement.

In an 18-page memorandum submitted and with evidence of 11 unofficial witnesses, the community narrated how they were killed and displaced by the soldiers of the Nigerian Army from the 93 Battalion and Jukuns from Kashimbilla district in Taraba State in the 2014 Tiv-Jukun crisis.

Led in evidence yesterday by their counsel, Mike Utsaha, the petitioner’s last witness, Pastor James Abashi narrated how he returned a gun that was found close to a river after an attack on the community.

“I took it to the traditional leader who immediately called the DPO of Adikpo. And in my presence, the gun was handed over to the DPO who was directed to return the gun to Col. Jando, the security adviser to the Governor of Benue State. And since the Army did not come back to the village to search for the gun, I knew it has been delivered to them,” he said.

Asked under cross-examination whether they (the community youth) saw a body alongside the gun, the witness said, “Yes, they confirmed that someone was found injured and lying unconscious by the side of the gun dressed in a military uniform.”

He said the youth told him they didn’t take the injured man because they feared if they took him and he died in their custody, it will be further trouble for the community.

Another witness, William Bosua, asked for justice and compensation for lives lost, houses and farms burnt in the crisis and further requested for government intervention in the rebuilding of burnt churches, markets, schools and houses of individuals affected. They said after they were chased out of the land, the Nigerian Army and the Jukuns gave the land to Fulani who now graze their cattle on it.

Earlier, the Sir Justice Biobele A. Georgewill-led seven-man panel denied the application of a former Commander of the Multi-National Joint Task Force, Enitan Ransome-Kuti, who was demoted from the rank of Brigadier-General to Colonel and other requesting the Panel to hear their complaints against the Nigerian Army. The panel ruled that since the matter is already before the Court of Appeal, their cases were still sub judice.