Residents of Tyungu Jam and Mbaav communities in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State were thrown into confusion on Thursday after suspected thugs allegedly abducted a mortuary attendant and prevented families of victims of a recent bandit attack from retrieving the corpses of their loved ones for burial.
It was gathered that relatives and sympathisers had assembled at the mortuary to collect the bodies ahead of a planned mass burial when they discovered that the mortuary attendant had been taken away and the facility locked.
The development reportedly disrupted arrangements for the burial of victims killed during last week’s attack on the communities.
Bandits had on Thursday last week invaded Tyungu Jam and Mbaav communities in the Yaav and Mbadura council wards of Kwande LGA, killing several residents and leaving many others injured.
Reacting to the killings earlier, the Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, through a statement by his media aide, Solomon Iorpev, condemned the incident, describing the attack as senseless and barbaric.
The governor also called on security agencies to track down those responsible.
The disruption of the burial ceremony has, however, drawn criticism from the All Progressives Congress in the state, which described the incident as disgraceful.
In a statement issued by the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Daniel Ihomun, the APC alleged that the disruption was carried out by sponsored thugs.
According to the statement, the thugs allegedly abducted a mortuary attendant identified as MT Tiga and sealed the mortuary in a bid to stop residents of Turan from conducting a mass burial for victims killed in Mbachoon in the Yaav District of Kwande LGA.
The party said the action was inhumane and an infringement on the community’s right to mourn and bury their deceased relatives with dignity.
It added that the people of Turan should be allowed to determine how they bury their loved ones and draw attention to the killings allegedly being carried out by armed Fulani bandits in the area.
Families who had earlier postponed the burial of their relatives were said to have scheduled Thursday for the mass burial, which attracted mourners and clergy from within and outside the state.
However, the ceremony was disrupted after the mortuary attendant was reportedly taken away by some thugs, leaving families unable to retrieve the corpses.
The APC also commended Alex Barbir, who reportedly travelled from the United States to show solidarity with the community and support efforts to draw international attention to the killings in Benue State.
The party further appreciated Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo from Plateau State, who was said to have officiated at the burial rites, and called on the state government to investigate the alleged abduction of the mortuary attendant, the sealing of the mortuary facility and the harassment of residents.
Also reacting, the President General of Mdzough U Tiv Worldwide, retired Comptroller-General of Prisons, Iorbee Ihagh, described the incident as shameful.
Ihagh, who hails from Turan in Kwande LGA, questioned why anyone would oppose the burial of people killed during attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
He said many sympathisers had travelled long distances, including from outside the country, to attend the burial but were disappointed when they discovered that the mortuary was locked and the attendant missing.
According to him, some residents considered forcing the mortuary open, but the priest conducting the rites advised against it.
When contacted, the Chairman of Kwande Local Government Area, Neji Terhile, said those organising the mass burial failed to consider the security situation in the area.
He urged caution and warned against politicising the incident, adding that some victims of the attack had already been buried.
Terhile noted that organising a large gathering in a community experiencing repeated attacks could expose more people to danger.