By Ameh Ejekwonyilo
Abuja
Concerned Gboko Indigenes have demanded the sum of N20 billion as compensation from th federal government for the alleged murder of seven members of their community by soldiers attached to Dangote Cement Plc for defecating in a bush near the company.
The group made their demands known while delivering their petition at the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Abuja.
The group, led by its leader, Yandev Amaabai, while submitting the petition to the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Prof Bem Angwe said the problem started on March 18 when one Terhile Jirbo went to defecate in the bush around the company and one of the Soldiers demanded that he should remove his faeces with his mouth.
He told the NHRC boss that it was the inability of the young man to comply with the, “unlawful order” that infuriated the Soldier who shot him in the mouth with an AK 47 rifle, adding that the victim is being treated in a private hospital in Gboko.
“It was after the severally wounded yougman was taken to the hospital that aggrieved youths who started protesting were directly shot at by the Soldiers attached to the Gboko plant of the Dangote Cement Company.
“Seven defenseless, unarmed youths, including a young lady, were cut down in their prime, while several others with varying degrees of injuries are being treated in various hospitals in Gboko”, he said.
According to him, it was another pain and anguish for parents of the victims when sponsored announcements over the air and newspaper reports by the company that the murdered youths were thieves.
The group therefore urged the human rights commission to set up a high profile commission on inquiry into the activities of the Dangote Cement Plc, Gboko plant to unravel the circumstances surrounding the killing and maiming of the Tiv youths by Soldiers assigned to the plant on March 18.
The concerned Gboko Indegenes who want the relevant authorities to fish out and prosecute the soldiers that carried out the unprovoked murderous attacks also demanded the sum of N20 billion be paid to families of the victims by the Federal Government as compensatory damages.
“We wish to inform that our youths are becoming restive; hence the urgent need to address the concerns raised in this letter”, he said.
Responding, the NHRC boss commended the delegation, which comprised of the Vice Chairman of Gboko local government of Benue state, the leader of the council and the councilors for not taking law into their hands in addressing the problem.
Prof. Angwe promised that the Commission would take up the matter to ensure that justice prevailed.
He said the commission will also investigate the engagement of soldiers by private company with a view to unraveling the alleged killing.
“We will ensure that the alleged culprits are identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law”, he said.
