Communal clash in Benue claims nine lifes

At least nine persons were killed on Monday as a result of communal clash that ensued between Awe, a Benue/Nasarawa border town, the Benue state Police Command has said.

The command’s Spokesman, DSP Daniel Ezeala, briefed newsmen on the incident yesterday in Makurdi, Benue State capital.

Ezeala said that the deceased had been deposited at the Gbajimba General Hospital, Guma, Benue.

According to him, the command was yet to know the cause of the clash, but added that no formal complaint had been made to any security agency on the clash.

He said that the policemen were immediately deployed to the area to calm situation following a widespread rumour on the incident.

Ezeala assured that the situation was under control, appealing to the people to go about their daily businesses without fear of being molested

The Chairman of Guma Local Government, Mr Usa Adi, said that the assailants razed three villages in Njorov district of Guma.

He also said that many of the residents of the affected villages, who fled to neighbouring villages for safety, were yet to return.

He appealed to security agencies, especially soldiers drafted to Guma, to forestall further breakdown of law and order.

Adi accused the villages on the Nasarawa/Benue border of harbouring armed bandits responsible for the recurring killings.

The chairman appealed to the government of the two states to search for the perpetrators.