3 Killed In Nasarawa Land Dispute

Three people have lost their lives as a result of a dispute over farmland in the Keana local government area of Nasarawa State.

The crisis followed the killing of an Alago youth from Keana in Nasarawa State while working on the farm by persons from neighbouring Benue State.

Our correspondent learnt that four people of Alago extraction sustained injuries during the attack on the farm located near the Benue border.

A source in Keana town said those injured during the attack are receiving treatment in hospitals in the area and Lafia.

The special assistant on Public Affairs to Nasarawa State governor, Abdullahi Sule, Mr Peter Ahemba, who confirmed the development to our correspondent, said the crisis spread into Keana town, resulting in the death of two more people.

The crisis it was learnt, led to the displacement of many people in the ancient town and environs.
Ahemba however, said the situation has been brought under control with the deployment of security personnel.

Confirming the incident, the state Police Command public relations officer, DSP Ramhan Nansel said two people were killed and five people injured in the crisis.

“Two persons died and five others were injured in the crisis. At the moment, normalcy has been restored in the affected areas.

“The incident is condemnable, but I can assure you that the Nasarawa State Police command is on top of the situation,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Tiv community in the state, under the umbrella of Tiv Development Association (TIDA), has condemned the crisis.

President of the association, Comrade Simeon Apusu, in a statement on Tuesday in Lafia, regretted that the situation has led to the displacement of hundreds of Tiv farmers in Keana town and those of Obosidoma and other nearby Tiv villages in the area, insisting that the resort to violence in conflict situations was counter productive hence, dialogue must be encouraged as the best means of resolving disagreement amongst communities.

He commended the state government for proactively deploying security operatives in the area to forestall further breakdown of law and order and called for deployment of more security operatives in Keana town and other surrounding Tiv villages in the area to enable the displaced persons return to their homes.

Comrade Apusu also appealed to the state and federal governments to hasten the ongoing boundary demarcation process between Nasarawa and Benue states in order to provide a permanent solution to the incessant land dispute between farmers at the border areas of the two states.

The TIDA president called on the Tiv people, especially the youth not to take laws into their hands as the TIDA leadership was working in synergy with the state government and other relevant stakeholders for the restoration of permanent peace.

While expressing his condolences to the immediate families of the victims, the Osana of Keana and the entire peace-loving people of Keana local government over the unfortunate incident, the TIDA president prayed God to repose the souls of those killed and quick healing to the injured victims.