Six feared killed in fresh Benue communal clash

SIX persons were feared killed and several houses burnt in a renewed communal clash between Bonga community in Konshisha and Ukpute community in the Oju Local Government Areas of Benue State on Sunday.

Among the houses burnt was a church.

Recall that the two local government areas were last week engaged in a clash over land, leading to the death of two persons.

It was gathered that the Sunday crisis occurred a day after a peace meeting was held between the warring communities at Tse Agbaragba, headquarters of Konshisha Local Government.

The militia, who were said to have dressed in army uniform and from Konshisha council area, attacked other communities, which include; Ima, Ochoro, Ekinyo and Agbada-Ichwo, all located around the boundary between the two local government areas.

 A local from the Ukpute community in Oju LGA, simply identified himself as Onah, told our correspondent in a telephone interview that the invaders destroyed two markets, several shops and looted goods worth millions of naira, while over 3,000 women and children had been displaced.

He said, “Over 15 communities in Oju living along the boundaries were attacked by Bonda militias from Konshisha Local Government Area of the state.

“We live in perpetual fear with these people. They launched attack on our communities at will. Imagine, some stakeholders from our communities in Oju Local Government Area, attended a peace meeting with the Bonda community in Konshisha LGA of the state.”

President of Igede National Youths Council, Andyson Egbodo, alleged that six persons were killed and several houses burnt during the crisis.

Meanwhile, the second class chief and Ter Ikyor in Konshisha Local Government Area, Chief Thomas Jam Gbinde, said some people from his domain were responsible for the attack on Igede communities in Oju LGA and condemned the attack.

“The Tor Tiv has also directed me to order the district head of Bonda to produce those attackers. We don’t want trouble; what we need is peace,” he said

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Catherine Anene, confirmed that there were fresh uprising in the areas in conflict, adding that the police immediately brought the situation under control.

Anene however said that she was not aware that anybody was killed in the crisis.