Army Takes Drastic Action: Cancels Peace Meeting, Detains Youths In Cross River Conflict

A group of young individuals from Yache-Ijiegu community in Yala LGA, Cross River State, were apprehended on Thursday evening by soldiers assigned to the security team responsible for maintaining peace amidst the ongoing conflict between them and Tiv settlers…CONTINUE READING....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

These arrests were made in connection with the alleged killing of a soldier by Yache-Ijiegu youths during a communal clash the previous weekend, a dispute that purportedly resulted in 20 fatalities and extensive property damage.

Community insiders have indicated that the soldiers were greatly aggrieved by the loss of their comrade, leading them to cancel a scheduled peace meeting between the feuding parties, which was supposed to occur on Wednesday. Instead, they opted to detain the local young men.

According to one of the sources, “The Tivs had declined to attend the meeting, and our representatives who went returned without any progress.

However, soldiers from Benue State visited our community and interrogated various individuals. They compelled some of our youth leaders to guide them to the hospital where our youths, who had sustained gunshot injuries during the recent clash, were receiving treatment.”

“At the hospital, they also took one of our injured young men into custody.”

Reliable sources have revealed that the soldiers demanded that all the individuals who had ventured into the bush to confront the Tiv settlers, resulting in the accidental death of the soldier in question, be handed over.

One of the Yache boys who had received medical treatment for gunshot injuries at the hospital informed the soldiers that the young man responsible for the accidental shooting of the soldier during the confrontation with the Tiv settlers was swiftly shot and killed by the soldiers.

The sources have conveyed significant anxiety within the community, as reports suggest that the Tiv settlers are mobilizing for another potential attack, and the soldiers have purportedly issued threats.

An indigenous member of the Yache-Ijiegu community, Senator Stephen Odey, currently serving as a commissioner, has appealed to the commander in charge of Ogoja barracks to facilitate a peaceful resolution to prevent a potential military incursion into the community.

When questioned over the phone, the leader of the arresting soldiers, Lt. Hassan, responded, “I don’t know what you are talking about. Thank you.”

In an earlier phone interview, another commander stationed in the Yache-Ijiegu area, Lt. Alex, confirmed that a soldier had been killed and expressed his displeasure, stating, “We were sent here to maintain peace, but the people continue to provoke and launch attacks, to the extent of killing our soldier.”