The Chief of Army Staff of the Nigerian Army was recently reported to have offered an apology to the people of Benue State for the massacre of their brothers and sisters in Zaki-Biam in October 2001 by army soldiers.

The Chief of Army Staff of the Nigerian Army was recently reported to have offered an apology to the people of Benue State for the massacre of their brothers and sisters in Zaki-Biam in October 2001 by army soldiers. 

It is with utter sadness that we remember this cold-blooded massacre of hundreds of defenseless Tiv people, the displacement of thousands from their homes and the destruction of property worth millions of naira by soldiers of the Nigerian Army.

We welcome the apology by the army chief and urge the Federal Government to follow it up with the implementation of the recent judgment of the Enugu Federal High Court granting N41.8 billion in compensation to the families that lost loved ones and property, and communities that suffered so much destruction. Implementation of this judgment is needed for the affected families and communities to begin the healing process that has already been delayed for many years. May we request that the Federal Government, through the office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Honorable Mike Aondoakaa (SAN), ensure that the rule of law and fair play take their course in this matter in a timely way. 

We note with gladness the fact that the judiciary in Nigeria has proved time and time again that it is indeed the last hope of the common man and an impartial arbiter in our nation. As an administration that has stated its commitment to the rule of law, we expect compliance with the judgment of the court to be a demonstration of the government's genuine efforts in this regard.

J Doo Gar.

MUTA President.