Staff Reporter
25/10/2001
Nigerian troops have killed at least 200 villagers in central Nigeria, in
apparent retaliation for the slaughter of 19 soldiers trapped in ethnic
violence almost two weeks ago.
BENUE: The villagers were killed Monday and Tuesday in the central Nigerian
state of Benue. State officials say the soldiers attacked the villages of
Anyiin, Gbeji, Vaase, Zaki Biam and Iorja.
Benue State government spokesman Gahar Agerzua said Wednesday the death toll
in the two days rampage has reached at least 200. He said in one of the
villages, soldiers invited the residents to what they called a peace
meeting. When the group gathered, the attackers separated women and children
and then opened fire on the men.
Nigerian defense officials deny the military was involved in the killings. A
dusk-to-dawn curfew has been imposed in the state capital, Makurdi. Reuters
news agency reports three mosques were set on fire and more people killed
Wednesday in Makurdi after protests against the army's violent crackdown.
The 19 soldiers who were killed had been deployed to contain the conflict
between the warring Tiv and Jukun peoples. The Nigerian government last week
ordered both police and army forces to hunt down those responsible for the
murders of the 19, who were abducted by militiamen and hacked to death
http://www.africaonline.com/site/Articles/1,3,42289.jsp
>"(T)he death toll in the two days rampage has reached at least 200. (I)n one
>of the villages, soldiers invited the residents to what they called a peace
>meeting. When the group gathered, the attackers separated women and children
>and then opened fire on the men." No doubt the ho's and niglets would fetch
>a good price on a Sudanese auction block......
>---------------------------------------------------------------------
>Niggeria: Troops kill at least 200
>
>Staff Reporter
>25/10/2001
>
>Niggerian troops have killed at least 200 villagers in central Niggeria, in
>apparent retaliation for the slaughter of 19 soldiers trapped in ethnic
>violence almost two weeks ago.
>
>BENUE: The villagers were killed Monday and Tuesday in the central Niggerian
>state of Benue. State officials say the soldiers attacked the villages of
>Anyiin, Gbeji, Vaase, Zaki Biam and Iorja.
>
>Benue State government spokesman Gahar Agerzua said Wednesday the death toll
>in the two days rampage has reached at least 200. He said in one of the
>villages, soldiers invited the residents to what they called a peace
>meeting. When the group gathered, the attackers separated women and children
>and then opened fire on the men.
>
>Niggerian defense officials deny the military was involved in the killings. A
>dusk-to-dawn curfew has been imposed in the state capital, Makurdi. Reuters
>news agency reports three mosques were set on fire and more people killed
>Wednesday in Makurdi after protests against the army's violent crackdown.
>
>The 19 soldiers who were killed had been deployed to contain the conflict
>between the warring Tiv and Jukun peoples. The Niggerian government last week