Residents of Gboko in Benue State were recently thrown into chaos following an attack launched on the house of a relative of the former governor of the state, Late Aper Aku.
The family of late David Aku, a nephew of the former governor, narrowly escaped death as the house and a car in the compound were set ablaze by daredevils over a land tussle.
A 26-year-old daughter of David, Deborah Aku, who volunteered to speak with The Standard Gazette’s Reporter, Ademu Usman Idakwo, bared her mind on what transpired between her family and some people in the community that led to the assault.
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Debora, a graduate of Benue State University, is a human rights advocate, Peacebuilder and creative writer whose popularity among her peers in the state is second to none.
She is a journalist’s delight and a well-cultured lady.
Excerpt:
People may like to know you, who are you, Debora?
My name is Debora Dooshima Aku. I am 26 years old, a Tiv lady, and a law graduate of Benue State University.
Recently, the internet was “on fire” over the unfortunate incident at your family house in Gboko. Can you tell us what happened?
Our house and personal properties were burnt down by some youths in a community where we have stayed for over ten years without any problem with anybody.
How did the problem start?
It started on our farm, where goats were destroying crops. Goats from the community had been ravaging our farm and destroying our cassava. My mother went to the houses of goat owners to plead with them to tie their goats to the fence to stop them from straying onto the farm.
Despite her persistent efforts to ensure that the goats were kept on the rope to avoid going to the farm, this did not yield any results as most of the goat owners refused to do that; rather, they were left to roam on the farm, destroying the farm produce, especially the cassava.
We then caught two goats on our farm and took them to the community youth leader to report to him, but to our surprise, the arrested goats were returned to the owners without calling for a meeting to resolve the matter.
Two weeks later, one of our neighbours came to threaten us in our house with a dagger, saying his goat died after coming to our farm, and if any of his goats died again, he would take his revenge on us.
Honestly speaking, we didn’t see any dead goats on our farm. When my mother returned from work, we told her about the issue. She said if someone could come to their house with a cutlass to threaten us, then if she decided to go to their house, they might stab her.
Then my mother resolved, as a law-abiding citizen, to go to the police station to report the matter.
Two officers then came to make the arrest but were stopped by the youths in the area, saying no police officer had ever arrested anybody in their community.
The police went back without picking anyone. They made another attempt on 21st March to arrest two boys suspected to be part of those threatening to attack our house with cutlasses, and they were eventually picked up.
My mother was also invited to the police station, and after taking down her statement, the police asked her to go home.
The following morning, we were invaded by the family of the two boys detained by the police with a claim that we had organised the kidnapping of their children and started destroying our properties.
What saved the situation was that our doors were iron-cast, but they made several attempts to penetrate and meet us where we were taken refuge. We then alerted the police of the crisis in our house.
They promptly responded and arrested the father of the two boys, along with some of his family members who brought the fight to our doorstep.
This time the Criminal Investigation Department and CID operatives took over the case this time.
The matter was taken to court, and they were remanded at the correctional centre but were granted bail on 2nd April to go home and settle with my mother.
The worst happened again on 7th April when we discovered two dead goats on our farm. We don’t know how they got there or what happened to them, so we didn’t touch them. The following morning, the youths of this community mobilised themselves in their hundreds and stormed our house while we were still indoors.
They didn’t ask for anyone, but the last we heard was the breaking of windows and doors in our house, destroying our car, going to the piggery, forcing the door open and taking away all our pigs. They also killed the dog in our compound.
We were terrified by their actions. We heard them say that they had sent a banker away from this community and that we were going to be the second family to be sent away.
We called the police again, and when they arrived, this boy attacked their van; the police had to beat a retreat for reinforcement. They later came with a large number of their men but were overpowered by the rampaging youths.
Three policemen were beaten and had their weapons collected by these militant youths.
Why were they so daring? Could it be that they were being supported by some powers in the community or state?
Well, I can’t say, but I know that they have a leader called Mike Adi, and we later find out that they brought a herbalist from Guma who did anti-bullet charm for them to prevent the guns from entering them; maybe that is the secret of their boldness to attack the police after destroying our house.
Despite the crisis, the police were able to smuggle us out of the house to the police station.
Immediately, they got the information that we had escaped with the help of the police; they set the entire house ablaze.
Everything in that house was burnt down. We didn’t take a needle from that house. We were left with only the clothes on us and handsets in our hands. We lost every one of our possessions, including our certificates.
Since the incident, has anybody or a group of people in the form of a government delegation visited your family about the matter?
Of course, from the government side, the Speaker of Benue State House of Assembly, Right Honourable Aondona Dajoh, visited the scene of the crisis and also visited us ( the victims). He met with the security agencies, too. Our traditional rulers from my place of origin, The Tor Kwande and Ter Ushongo, also visited the scene and visited us at the place where we are currently staying.
You seem to be commanding followership among your people and peers. Are you thinking of joining politics shortly?
For now, all I need and intend to use my God-giving talent and opportunity for is to fight for justice. I will start with my family. I want justice for me and my family, who had been rendered homeless by the wicked act of some youths in our community in Gboko. I am crying for justice to be served.
Your professional record shows that you are a peace builder and rights activist. What do you think the government should do to curb youth restiveness in Benue State? I asked this because several incidents of this nature have occurred in the state recently.
The government must act decisively to nip this act of lawlessness in the bud. The perpetrators of this type of wicked act must be arrested, tried for their crimes, and convicted.
They should be made to pay adequate compensation to the victims to serve as a deterrent to others in the state.
Let me say clearly that if the matter is not handled delicately, it might likely escalate into something uncontrollable, hence the need for urgent action.
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