According to Akume, the reported military attack on Jootar in Sankera (Benue) occurred on March 7, 2023, when troops were said to have killed and injured unarmed, noncombatant citizens going about their normal business.
A public policy analyst and one of the #BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) Movement spokespersons, Sesugh Akume, says the Chief of Army Staff has responded to his petition on reported military invasion in Sankera, Benue State, North Central Nigeria.
According to Akume, the reported military attack on Jootar in Sankera (Benue) occurred on March 7, 2023, when troops were said to have killed and injured unarmed, noncombatant citizens going about their normal business.
As reported by Ayatutu Cultural and Social Development Initiative (AYACASODI), they also allegedly confiscated citizens’ motorcycles.
Akume, in a statement issued on Thursday, May 11, 2023, however, said the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya, in his response to one of his letters dated April 25, 2023, said the reported attack was a Defence Headquarters’ operation.
On April 20, 2023, SaharaReporters reported that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said it had commenced a preliminary investigation into the alleged invasion of Sankera community in Benue State following the petition it received from Akume.
Akume had disclosed in a release titled "Human Rights Commission Responds to Petition on Reported Nigerian Army Invasion in Sankera (Benue)" that investigations had begun into the alleged atrocities, sharing a copy of the release with SaharaReporters.
He had said, "The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has responded to my petition of 31 March, made under sections 5 and 6 of the NHRC Act 2004, in their letter dated 4 April, wherein they stated that my complaint has been registered as C/2023/CPR/2636/HQ being the complaint/reference [and tracking] number for subsequent correspondences.
"They further indicated that their Benue office has been directed to conduct preliminary investigations and that I will be informed of the outcome of their investigations in due course."
In his statement on Thursday, Akume said, “Following my complaint of 31 March to the Chief of Defence Staff, and Chief of Army Staff about a reported military attack on Jootar in Sankera (Benue) where on 7 March, troops are said to have killed and injured unarmed, noncombatant citizens going about their normal business and confiscated citizens’ motorcycles as reported by Ayatutu Cultural and Social Development Initiative (AYACASODI, I got no response and wrote another letter dated 25 April, a pre-action notice (a notice to sue).
”In a letter dated 3 May and referenced AHQ/DAOPS/G3/240/232/15, the Chief of Army Staff acknowledged my previous letters, noting the issues raised therein, and ‘humbly’ informed me that Operation Whirl Stroke, whose operatives carried out the 7 March reported attack is a Defence Headquarters operation, and advised me to consider directing my complaint to the Chief of Defence Staff for appropriate action.
“Whereas the reply is appreciated, it remains a fact that the named leader of the troops in the particular incidence, Major Paul Duniya, is of the Nigerian army. Second the petition referenced numerous attacks of the Nigerian army on Sankera over the years -- including the destruction of the country home of Lieutenant-General SVL Malu, Chief of Army Staff (1999 – 2021) that lies in ruins to this day -- with specified locations and dates, thereby raising reasonable fears of a genocide by the Nigerian army. Were the issues raised in mine truly noted as stated in theirs, mere advice to direct the complaints to another would have been inadequate without addressing the other cogent issues raised.
“Despite this response, I remain committed and intend to continue pursuing this cause until justice is served not only for the innocent citizens, victims of the military invasion in Sankera, and consequences for the perpetrators, but to ensure that the unfortunate attack of 7 March remains the last by the Nigerian military on the people of Sankera.”
Akume noted that he had sent petitions to the NHRC, Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, UN Human Rights Office, and the US-Nigeria Law Group regarding the military invasion in Sankera.
He continued, “The NHRC responded to the petition registered with the complaint/reference/[tracking] number /2023/CPR/2636/HQ, and also conducted preliminary investigations. The US-Nigeria Law Group also replied.
“On 26 April, the Chief of Navy Staff, and Chief of Air Staff (in addition to the Chief of Defence Staff, and Chief of Army Staff) were served the pre-action notices indicating my intention to seek a constitutional interpretation of some issues raised in my letters of complaint, including the role of the Nigerian military in a constitutional and liberal democracy and their function in civilian spaces.”
In his earlier statement, Akume narrated, "On 11 March, I read the sobering and detailed report of Ayatutu Cultural and Social Development Initiative (AYACASODI) on the attack on Sankera (Benue) by personnel of the Nigerian Army, at Jootar on 7 March, where motorcycles of innocent citizens were forcefully confiscated, and unarmed, noncombatant citizens were shot at with live ammunition, unprovoked, resulting in at least one fatality and others injured."
Noting that this was not the first of such attacks, Akume recalled that when he “ran for the House of Representatives for Sankera in the last election cycle, one of my cardinal commitments was to the security and safety of the people of Sankera, and to ensure that attacks as this are stopped and there are consequences for the attackers, whoever they are”.
“The group known as Ayatutu Cultural and Social Development Initiative, AYACASODI, on March 12, expressed deep concern over an unprovoked invasion of Jootar-Mbaterem community in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State by personnel of Operation Whirl Stroke, OPWS, which led to the death of one person while several others sustained injuries,” he had said.