No fewer than six persons were
feared dead in a fresh outbreak of fighting
between the Tiv and Hausa/Kabawa
communities at Gbajimba in Guma Local
Government Area of Benue State. Vanguard gathered from an eyewitness that
the crisis which started last weekend also left
close to 30 persons with varying degrees of
injuries while some houses and huts were also
torched during the crisis. According to the eyewitness, the crisis was
sparked off by an alleged attempt by some Tiv
youths to apprehend an Hausa/Kabawa youth
who allegedly assisted some Fulani
mercenaries in a recent attack on Nzorov
village. The source said: “At the peak of the fighting
between the Tiv natives and the Fulani
herdsmen, we noticed that most of the Hausa/
Kabawa people residing in Gbajimba took to
their heels. “Unfortunately, one of the Hausa youths was
sighted fighting alongside the Fulanis at
Nzorov and when peace returned to the
community, members of the fleeing Hausa
community made their way back to Gbajimba. “Regrettably, some of the Tiv youths
recognized one of the young men who fought
alongside the Fulanis. He was accosted and an
attempt by some Tiv youths to arrest him
degenerated into a major conflict but the main
suspect ran into the Gbajimba Police station for fear of being killed. “The enraged youths, however, insisted that
the Police must produce the suspect to allow
them mete out jungle justice on him. At that
point, there was tension in Gbjimba which led
to a major conflict between the two tribes,
leaving some six persons dead, close to 30 sustained serious injuries while houses and
huts were also destroyed. “Though we later heard that the suspect was
moved from Gbajimba to the state Police
Command Headquaters in Makurdi for safety
and interrogation.” Contacted, the Benue State Police Public
Relations Officer, PPRO, Deputy
Superintendent, DSP, Daniel Ezeala said the
Police were aware of one death arising from
the crisis, adding that 27 suspects had been
arrested while Police had also beefed up security in the troubled community.
feared dead in a fresh outbreak of fighting
between the Tiv and Hausa/Kabawa
communities at Gbajimba in Guma Local
Government Area of Benue State. Vanguard gathered from an eyewitness that
the crisis which started last weekend also left
close to 30 persons with varying degrees of
injuries while some houses and huts were also
torched during the crisis. According to the eyewitness, the crisis was
sparked off by an alleged attempt by some Tiv
youths to apprehend an Hausa/Kabawa youth
who allegedly assisted some Fulani
mercenaries in a recent attack on Nzorov
village. The source said: “At the peak of the fighting
between the Tiv natives and the Fulani
herdsmen, we noticed that most of the Hausa/
Kabawa people residing in Gbajimba took to
their heels. “Unfortunately, one of the Hausa youths was
sighted fighting alongside the Fulanis at
Nzorov and when peace returned to the
community, members of the fleeing Hausa
community made their way back to Gbajimba. “Regrettably, some of the Tiv youths
recognized one of the young men who fought
alongside the Fulanis. He was accosted and an
attempt by some Tiv youths to arrest him
degenerated into a major conflict but the main
suspect ran into the Gbajimba Police station for fear of being killed. “The enraged youths, however, insisted that
the Police must produce the suspect to allow
them mete out jungle justice on him. At that
point, there was tension in Gbjimba which led
to a major conflict between the two tribes,
leaving some six persons dead, close to 30 sustained serious injuries while houses and
huts were also destroyed. “Though we later heard that the suspect was
moved from Gbajimba to the state Police
Command Headquaters in Makurdi for safety
and interrogation.” Contacted, the Benue State Police Public
Relations Officer, PPRO, Deputy
Superintendent, DSP, Daniel Ezeala said the
Police were aware of one death arising from
the crisis, adding that 27 suspects had been
arrested while Police had also beefed up security in the troubled community.
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