Group condemn military brutality on Members in Taraba ,calls for investigation,sanctioning
By Mtindiga Daniel
The Taraba Tiv Youth Development Forum (TTYDF) has condemned in strong terms, the alleged military brutality on Rev. Father Bernard Richard, his house help and several others in Ikyaior, a popular Tiv village in Wukari local government area of Taraba State.
This was contained in a Press statement signed by the Forum’s President,Comrade Torkuma Luper Moses, Secretary , Uko Moses Wuaga, Public Relations Officer, Mtindiga Daniel Mpineter and made available to newsmen in Jalingo,the Taraba State capital.
The Forum described the act as unfortunate, unlawful, brutal, and gross abuse of fundamental human rights of citizens.
Recall that on the 5th of August, 2024, troops of the Nigeria military whose locations /identities still remain unknown,launched an unlawful operation on Ikyaior village, brutally harassing and torturing unarmed innocent civilians including a Reverend Father who just resumed duty in the Community on August 31st, 2024.
“We want to state categorically that The unlawful operation orchestrated by men of the Nigerian Military, brutally torturing the Priest in charge of All Saints Pastoral Area, Reverend Fr Bernard Richard, his house help, Terhemen Cornelius and several others is completely unlawful, inhumane , insensitive,condemnable and Punishable by law.”
The forum expressed displeasure with the constant harassment and brutality of innocent Tiv people by men of the Nigeria Military especially in Southern Taraba and other parts of the state and Nigeria, wondering why trained military men who are supposed to protect citizens lives and properties would rather choose to brutally harass, torture innocents and cart away their properties including cell phones.
“We wonder why military men whose core duty is to protect citizens lives and properties, would rather choose to engage in such unlawful operation of brutally harassing and torturing unarmed civilians as well as,carting away cell phones and other items/properties belonging to residents of the community.
“Their display and gross misconduct, has further raised questions and concerns about their professional ethics, the safety of the common Nigerians and a Tiv man in particular especially in Taraba as well as the rationale behind their operation, “the release read in parts.
On theirparts,Reverend Fr. Bernard Richard and his house help, Mr. Terhemen Cornelius who suffered severe injuries including eye damage narrates their ordeals.
” On Monday the 5th of August after Mass at about 9-10:00 Am, I asked my house help to inspect the house to ascertain the necessary things that were not in store since we just reported to the Mission. I also asked my Alter servers to clean my car so I could travel to Wukari that morning. While they were trying to put things in order, I saw some military men in about six trucks and 10 motorcycles driving close to the Church’s fence.when they stopped by, I drew close and introduced myself to them as the Priest in charge of the Pastoral Area. One of them requested for water which was given. They asked me to direct them to a particular village but unfortunately, I didn’t know the place so I proceeded inside to prepare and take off
“While I was inside my room, I started hearing usual noise so I quickly rushed out only to discover that the military men were already brutalizing people right inside the Church’s premises. As I stood perplexed one of them called me by the fence and asked me to direct them to a particular village but I told them that I don’t know place because am barely one week in this community.
“As we continued with the conversation moving towards the direction of the other military men, I sighted how they were beating my house help and I quickly tried to intervene by telling them that, the young man is my maid so they should stop beating him but they paid deaf ears to me instead, they ordered me to bring out my ID card which I respectfully did. Some asked me to bring my transfer letter but others objected and immediately, they started beating me up and down.
“Afterwards, I rushed to the house help and on reaching there, he was profusely screaming on top of his voice ‘they have removed my eye, they have removed my eye’. Very unfortunate, his left eye was damaged instantly because, the military men used a big stick on him.
“I quickly rushed him to a hospital in Wukari but we were referred to Federal Medical Center, Jalingo where we are currently receiving treatment. In the course of the operation, the Military men collected my phone and another phone belonging to an Alter server, “Fr. Bernard.
“They called me out from the kitchen and started beating me up with a big stick without asking me any question and they damaged my left eye in the process, ” Terhemen Cornelius said.
TTYDF however demand that, proper investigation be done by the Taraba State Government, Nigeria Defence Headquarters and the Federal government to uncover and sanction those military men who carried out the unlawful brutal operation.
“While we truly sympathize with Terhemen Cornelius whose left eye was damaged by the Nigeria military in the the course of their unlawful operation, we wish to call on the Government of Taraba State, Nigeria Defence Headquarters and the Federal government to as a matter of urgency, investigate thoroughly and punish those military men who carried out that unlawful operation on the innocent peaceful residents of Ikyaior village”the Forum emphasized.
When contact, the Spokesperson for the 6 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Jalingo Captain Oni Olubondunde said he would get back to our reporter but could not yield to his promise as at the time this report was filed.
