Senate Blames Ayu, Unongo for Benue Crisis
Unmasks sponsors of arms procurement, militia training
From Kola Ologbondiyan in Abuja
The joint report of the Senate Committees on State and Local Govern-ment Administration and National Security and Intelligence which probed the crisis that has bedevilled Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State presented yesterday indicted the Internal Affairs Minister, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, and the governorship candidate of the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP), Mr. Paul Unongo, of being the masterminds.
The report also named the Principal Officer to the late former Head of State, Col. Basil Kwembeh (rtd.), General Sani Abacha, former deputy governor of Benue State, Chief Ason Bur, Col. Benjamin Aboho (rtd.) and Chief Onya Korijo as the "militant leaders responsible for the procurement of arms training of the militia." It called on the Federal Government to investigate and prosecute these named persons.
The report has been scheduled for consideration next month when Senate is expected to resume from its end of session recess.
Senator Iyabode Anisulowo (PDP, Ogun State), chairman of the joint committee, who presented the report, noted that the crisis in Kwande was politically motivated as "the immediate cause of the crisis was as a result of the LGA election held 27th March 2004 nationwide."
"Elections took place in Kwande Local Area of Benue State but the results were not announced by the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC). Announcement of result in all the 23 local government areas could have averted the crisis in Kwande LGA," the report further disclosed.
According to Anisulowo, "large quantity of illegally acquired arms abound in the State especially in the hands of militia groups operated by both parties" and "most of the houses destroyed were done by means of sophisticated weapons. The destruction in Jato Aka was horrific and unimaginable."
Accusing the BSIEC of misleading the state government into believing that election did not hold in Kwande local government, the report stated that "all security agencies reported that election were held in Kwande Local Government with the exception of four wards."
"Crises are fuelled by sentiments shared by the leader of the ANPP (Paul Unongo) on one side and (Iyorchia Ayu) of the PDP," the report stated. It added that, "the number of innocent citizens that have been killed and maimed in the crises cannot be justified under any pretext in peace time".
The report therefore recommended that the results of the local government elections in Kwande local government area be released; that government disarm the militia by whatever means possible; and that the government should urgently station a detachment of Mobile Police Force in Kwande local government.
It also recommended the investigation and prosecution of Kwembeh, Bur, Aboho and Korijo and asked the Federal and State governments to "as a matter of urgency send relief materials to the affected areas and aids to victims affected/displaced by the disturbances."
The state government had on Wednesday instituted a judicial commission of inquiry to probe the Kwande crisis which also affected Ukwu Local Government area.
Secretary to State Government, Dr. John Orokpo in a statement announcing the commission to be headed by Justice Cosmos Idye, a Customary Court of Appeal judge, said it was set up in line with the constitutional role of the governor, Mr. George Akume.
The ANPP in the state had alleged that the commission chairman, Idye and the only other member, Mr. Emmanuel Ogbote (rtd) including the lead council, Mr. Anthony Ijohor were card carrying members of the PDP.
But the state government denied the claim.
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