Residents of Tyungu Jam and Mbaav communities in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State were taken aback on Thursday when families of the victims of a bandit attack were denied access to their bodies as they prepared for a mass burial.

It was gathered that the families, who besieged the mortuary to claim their bodies, were shocked when the mortuary attendant was reported to have been whisked away.

Bandits had last Thursday invaded and attacked residents of Tyungu Jam and Mbaav communities in Yaav and Mbadura Council wards of Kwande Local Government Area, leading to the death of several people with many others injured.

The state governor, Hyacinth Alia, through a statement issued by his media aide, Solomon Iorpev, described the killing as “senseless and barbaric” and called on security operatives to apprehend the attackers.

Some families who could not immediately bury their loved ones had slated Thursday for burial but were said to have been shocked when they got to the morgue to pick up the deceased.

Eleven victims of the bandit attack were to be given a mass burial on Thursday, which had attracted people and priests from within and outside the state.

It was gathered that some thugs invaded the hospital and whisked away the mortuary attendant, which prevented the families from gaining access to claim their bodies for burial.

Condemning the disruption of the mass burial, the All Progressives Congress in the state described it as disgraceful.

In a statement issued by the state publicity secretary of the party, Daniel Ihomun, alleged that the disruption was sponsored.

The statement read In part: “We have received disturbing reports that sponsored thugs abducted a mortuary attendant, Mr. MT Tiga, and sealed his mortuary facility in a desperate attempt to prevent the people of Turan from carrying out a mass burial for the victims who were killed in Mbachoon, Yaav District of Turan in Kwande Local Government Area.

“This barbaric act is not only inhumane but also an assault on the fundamental right of a community to mourn and bury their dead with dignity. The people of Turan have every right to determine the manner in which they lay their loved ones to rest and to draw the attention of the world to the ongoing suffering and systematic killings being perpetrated against them by armed Fulani bandits.

“It is deeply troubling that in the face of relentless attacks and loss of lives, the people are now being denied even the basic humanity of burying their dead. One must ask: can the people not even be allowed to bury their dead in peace?

“While we commiserate with the grieving families and the entire Turan community over this painful tragedy, we commend Mr. Alex Barbir who travelled all the way from the United States of America to stand in solidarity with the people, witness the burial, and support efforts to tell the story of the Benue genocide to the international community as well as assist in rebuilding homes destroyed by the attackers.

The party, which expressed appreciation to Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo of Plateau State, who was reported to have officiated at the mass burial, appealed to the state government to immediately “investigate the abduction of the mortuary attendant, the sealing of the mortuary, and the harassment of the Turan community.”

Also condemning the incident, the President General of Mdzough U Tiv Worldwide, retired Comptroller General of Prisons, Iorbee Ihagh, described it as shameful.

Ihagh, who also hails from Turan in Kwande LGA, said, “I don’t know why anybody should be against the burial of the people who were victims of Fulani herdsmen.”

“It’s very shameful because people came from far away, even outside the country. The mortuary attendant was not seen and the place was locked. The people wanted to force the place open but the priest said no, they should not do that.”

When contacted, the Chairman of Kwande LGA, Neji Terhile, said those mobilising for the mass burial in the area did not take into consideration the volatility of the area.

The chairman said that as at the time of speaking to our correspondent on Friday, he was on his way to the community with Homeland Security and other government agencies.

While calling for caution and urging that the situation not be turned into a political issue, the chairman said some of the victims of the attack had been buried.

He said, “I am sure you are aware that these people slept in their houses and Fulanis came and attacked them. So now, in a community where Fulanis are carrying out attacks, you are mobilising for a mass burial — is it not a death trap that they are inviting?” (The PUNCH)

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