Jukun militia kills five Tiv farmers, injures woman in fresh attack

Use city crime map to track bandits, kidnappers, stakeholders tell FG
In Spite of interventions by stakeholders to broker peace between the Tiv and Jukun in Benue and Taraba states, five persons have been killed in fresh attacks on Gyenku in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.

The Guardian learnt that the Jukun attacked farms to kill the victims.Confirming the incidence, Caretaker Chairman of Ukum Council, Tor-Tyokaa Iberlogo said five persons were killed on their farms, while a woman was seriously injured and is receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.

On what becomes of the peace committee set up by Benue and Taraba states governments to ensure lasting peace and security in both states, Iberlogo said members of the committee would visit him next Monday for briefing.

When contacted, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Benue Command, DSP Sewuese Anene, said all efforts to get details from the Ukum Council Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and the Police Area Command failed.

It would be recalled that the incidence took place barely a week after a military operation code named, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) led by its Commander, Major Gen. Adeyemi Yekini, held a peace and security meeting with youths, traditional rulers and other critical stakeholders in Benue and Taraba states, who signed a peace accord at Kente in Taraba.

Meanwhile, as banditry and kidnappings continue to worsen in parts of the country, the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS) has advocated production of City Crime Map to enable security agents to track locations, entry and exit points of criminals.

NIS President, Alabo Charlesye David Charles, stated this in Awka, Anambra State yesterday in continuation of the 54th NIS Conference with the theme: National Mapping Infrastructure and Geospatial Technologies for Monitoring Disasters for Sustainable Development.

Charles noted that deployment of the mapping and surveillance devices would help security operatives to track the hoodlums, adding that a City Crime Map should be the prerogative of every city.He stated that technology, which has aided and simplified surveyors’ work, also created a room for its bastardisation by technology-biased and literate persons, saying that a surveyor easily identifies fake work from professional job.

“Surveyors are using the annual conference to invite Nigerians to tell them that we have the expertise and facilities to deliver and we still make maps, but we are rebranding so as to apply geo-data information to everyday life and development,” he stated.State Chairman of NIS, Surveyor Chux Nzomiwu, demanded the involvement of surveyors in tackling flood adversely affecting the state, pointing out that surveyors were needed in all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).