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B N W: Biafra Nigeria World News |
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GUARDIAN Five die in fresh Plateau crisis * Uproar in Benue Assembly over motion
for emergency rule * Our plight in FIVE persons were feared killed and about
20 houses torched in yet another orgy of violence in Yesterday, about 100 Also yesterday, the Benue State House of
Assembly was devoid of its usual conviviality. The legislators engaged in
verbal warfare over a call by the House Minority Leader, Boayalley Shaagee, for
an imposition of emergency rule in President Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday
last week imposed emergency rule on But a coalition of human rights groups,
led by activist lawyer Chief Ganiyu Oyesola Fawehinmi (SAN), faulted the
emergency rule in Plateau and vowed to challenge it in court. Two indigenes of the state have already
instituted an action against the emergency rule. But the suspended governor,
Chief Joshua Chibi Dariye, has accepted the federal authorities' action and
affirmed loyalty to the President. The Lyangjit attack was said to have
occurred at around According to an eyewitness, the Lyangjit
people had apparently surrendered their weapons, expressing surprise about how
the warring people got the arms they used. The state Commissioner for Police, Mr.
Innocent Ilozuoke, could not be reached yesterday as he had travelled to But reliable sources confirmed that the
police command was aware of the attack, although it was yet to receive any
written document to that effect. In Bauchi, Alli acknowledged reports that
some women and children were being abused at the various camps by some persons.
He, therefore, directed local council
chairmen, traditional and religious leaders to take appropriate measures to
protect the women from all forms of abuse in the various camps. Alli gave assurance that security
personnel would be doubled to ensure that the displaced people returned to
their former abodes without molestation. The sole administrator pleaded with the
displaced persons to allow the state government source for funds to resettle
them. He urged them not to abuse the
hospitality given them by the Bauchi State government, stressing that they
should forgive and forget the ugly past to facilitate the peace process being
initiated by his administration. The administrator, at the Government
House, Bauchi, thanked the governor, Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Muazu, and the people
of He urged the governor to help check
mercenaries who use Alli said that the armed bandits anywhere
they were found would not be spared, warning cattle thieves to desist from
their nefarious acts or face the wrath of government. Muazu thanked the Administrator for his
visit, pledging to support Plateau in its efforts at returning to normalcy. The Benue State House of Assembly had a
stormy session yesterday as members were bitterly divided on a call for
emergency rule in the state. The members were engaged in a shouting
match, using abusive language against one another depending on the camp they
belong to. Shaagee had decried the level of killings
allegedly perpetrated by the militiamen in Kwande area of the state, adding
that a declaration of emergency rule would help bring sanity to Shaagee stunned the House when he
informed it that the militiamen, known as Tiv Defence Corps (TDC), had returned
to their camp at Adikpo after unleashing mayhem at The minority leader announced that the
TDC members invaded a corpers' lodge in Adikpo and raped a female corps member.
He said the incident was a dent on the image of the state and called for a
definitive action against the perpetrators. However, Mr. Tordue Yer appealed to the
National Assembly and the Presidency not to heed the call for a declaration of
state of emergency. But another legislator, Mr. Hycinth
Kwaghbula (Ushongo Constituency), urged the Federal Government to declare
emergency rule, stressing that security of lives and property could no longer
be guaranteed in Benue. The debate dragged on along the two
opposing lines until the Speaker, Nzenda Iho ruled on the matter. Iho urged the legislators to be cautious
in their approach on the matter, stressing that the Plateau State experience
was an abnormality that should not be encouraged elsewhere. About 100 indigenes of Akwa Ibom State
resident in Kano State who fled the crisis there arrived in Uyo, the state
capital with tales of woe. The displaced persons, including women
and children, arrived on board two Toyota Coaster buses provided by the Akwa
Ibom State government. Addressing the returnees, the Deputy
Governor, Obong Ekpenyong assured them of the state government's concern over
their plight, adding that adequate arrangement had been made to ensure their
safety and welfare. The deputy governor appealed to them to
see their plight as a "national sacrifice for democracy," urging
restraint in their reaction while trying to settle down in Akwa Ibom among
non-indigenes of the state. Ekpenyong also appealed to indigenes of
the state, especially the commercial motorists to shun acts that could cause a
break down of law and order. His appeal came following the tumultuous
crowd of anxious indigenes who had thronged the Government House Annex office
on Wellington Bassey Way, Uyo where the returnees are camped to catch a glimpse
of them. According to him, law enforcement
agencies had been put on alert to deal decisively with any one attempting to
breach the peace in the state. Earlier, some of the returnees who spoke
on their plight through their spokesman, Mr. Samuel Okon claimed that over 60
indigenes of the state resident in The spokesman further painted gory
pictures of inhuman treatment meted out to them by their hosts in Kano and
accused the state governor, Ibrahim Shekaurau of aiding and abetting the mayhem
in that city. Akpan therefore appealed to the Already, Hausa communities resident in
pocket of exclusive areas of the capital city have fled and taken refuge at
police stations for fear of reprisal attacks. But Uyo has remained peaceful. Besides,
policemen have been strategically stationed at some parts of the capital city.`
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