Communal Clashes: Many feared killed, houses razed in Benue

Many persons have been feared killed and property worth millions destroyed in a renewed communal strife between Mbasombo and Mbaivur clans in Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State.

The long age crisis has defied all solutions proposed by the government over the years.

In 2021 alone, the crisis occurred about seven times with many killed and houses razed.

Investigations revealed that the current crisis broke out over land.
It was gathered that indigenes of both clans laid claim to a land, which escalated into a crisis.

A taxi driver, Paul Newman, who claimed to have lived in Ikpayongo for 20 years, said “Some people who claimed to be indigenes launched blistering attacks on the so called settlers and bloody violence ensued with many houses set ablaze.

A visit to Ikpayongo town, which is the epic zone of the crisis, revealed that many houses had been razed with people fleeing danger zone in numbers.
Police spokesperson, SP Kate, said crisis started last week and policemen have been deployed to the area.
Ikpayongo town, a suburb of Makurdi, is located about 6km on Makurdi- Enugu road with inhabitants predominantly peasant farmers.

(The Nation)