Benue Villagers Flee As 1 Dies In Communal Clash

Palpable fear gripped residents of Ikpayongo in Gwer-East local government area of Benue State, who are fleeing their communities following the renewed communal clashes between Mbasombo and Mbaivur communities, which has so far claimed one life.

LEADERSHIP gathered that several houses were razed, with properties worth millions of Naira, and farmlands have been destroyed.

A local in the area, who does not want his name in print, stated in a telephone conversation with Leadership that an indigene of Mbaivur was killed in his farm by Mbasombo people last Friday.

He said, “After the incident, the Mbaivur people demanded that the perpetrators of the dastardly act be brought to book and even gave Mbasombo people a deadline.”

According to him, “Unable to produce the perpetrators after the given timeframe had elapsed, Mbaivur people went on a reprisal attack.”

“When this man was killed in his farm last Friday, they removed the corpses from the mortuary. It was during their burial that those who killed the man came and started shooting sporadically,” he stated.

However, the people succeeded in burying the five persons. After that, Mbaivur people attacked Mbasombo people, leading to the burning down of a market square. “I wouldn’t know if there are casualties,” he said.

When contacted, Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident, stating that several houses were burnt, but there were no casualties.

She said the command has deployed policemen in the area to maintain law and order.