The Mbayongo community in Taraba and Benue on Wednesday petitioned the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), over the wanting killings and destruction of property worth millions of naira by the Nigeria Army and Air Force in the name of searching for a wanted criminal, Terwase Akwaza popularly known as Ghana.
The community is also demanding for N3 billion compensation for the lives and property destroyed.
This is contained in the petition by the secretary of the community Mr MacDonald Usaa and acknowledged by the NHRC which was made available to Nigerian Tribune.
The community wondered why the Nigeria Army and Air Force who should be protecting the fundamental human rights of the people as guaranteed by the constitution of Nigeria would engage in wanton killing and distruction of property belonging to a defenceless community like Mbayongo.
“In the wake of the sustained attacks by the armed forces on our communities, we and the vast majority of villages where these attacks have been concentrated have been completely overwhelmed and are now desolate and devastated as we have suffered wanting destruction of property and lives including.
“The massive burning down and general destruction of houses and homes, sundry household items, farms, crops, economic trees, vehicles, machineries, food stuffs, schools among others as the armed forces do not exercise any care during the this attacks.
“The community is demanding monetary compensation of N3 billion only to the families of those killed in the raid to enable them take care of the relations of victims.
“we want also want the commission to investigate the wanton killings as well as direct the federal government to rehabilitate the people and reconstruct their homes and farms destroyed.
“Even though the no amount of compensation will be worth the lives, the commission should direct the federal government to rehabilitate our people and reconstruct their homes and farms destroyed in the air and lands raids on our communities”, it reads.
