3 Killed In Benue Youths Clash Over Power Failure

Three persons have been killed and houses razed in a bloody clash between Obi and Otukpo youths at Ijegwu in Obi local government area of Benue State over power failure.

It was gathered that the clash resulted from power cut from the high-tension wire supplying electricity to Obi and Oju councils for the past four days.

An eyewitness who spoke to LEADERSHIP on phone and does not want his name in print said the youths of Ijegwu in Obi LG suspected sabotage of the high-tension cable which supplies electricity to the two LGAs at a switch-on station located in their area by some Otukpo youths

He said, “upon getting to the switch to confirm their suspicion, one of the youths climbed the pole to check the switch and in the process some yet to be identified youths alleged to come from Otukpo came and shot sporadically leading to the death of one person.

It was also gathered that the Ijegwu youths thereafter mobilised for a counterattack in which another two people were killed.

Another eyewitness who pleaded anonymity explained that trouble started when some youths suspected to come from Otukpo went and cut off the high-tension wire supplying light to Obi and Oju Local Government Areas.

The second-class chief in Obi LG, Adutu’Obi, Chief Chris Ijale, who also confirmed the incident, said policemen and soldiers had mobilised to the area and had restored normalcy.

The monarch wondered how an issue that was supposed to be handled by the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED) will lead to the death of consumers by themselves.

When contacted, the police public relations officer Catherine Anene who confirmed the incident, said “Yes, I got the report that two communities were fighting over a cut in electricity supply.

“However, I am yet to get the details of what happened from the divisional police officer (DPO) in the area,” she said.