Benue Clash!!!! Four person killed in recent attacks

The Benue Police Command on Sunday confirmed the killings of Four persons have been confirmed dead by the Benue State Police Command on Sunday, in a renewed clash in Ogobia, Ugboju community, in the Otukpo Local Government Area of the state.

The area was in August engulfed in a bloody crisis ignited by two brothers, who were said to be members of the All Progressives Congress and Peoples Democratic Party, respectively.

During the August mayhem, a retired major, Lawrence Ugbo, and three others were killed.

Although the immediate cause of the latest hostility is unknown as of the time of filing this report, it was gathered that the crisis was a reprisal for the August attack.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu, who confirmed the renewed hostility to our correspondent in Makurdi on Sunday, said there was a clash in the area which claimed the lives of three persons on Saturday.

He said one other person injured during the mayhem, died on Sunday.

“Yes, there was a clash that claimed the lives of three persons yesterday night (Saturday) and another injured person gave up today (Sunday), making four casulaties in all. Normalcy has been restored as more patrol teams have been deployed in the area to support the ones that were there after the August mayhem,” Yamu said.

The spokesperson said the police had yet to establish the motive for the killings, adding that it was likely a reprisal for the August attack.

“It is likely that the killings are connected to what happened in the area recently, but we have commenced full investigations to bring the killers to book,’’ the PPRO said.

He urged the public to provide security agencies with useful information that could lead to the arrest of the culprits.

Meanwhile, members of the Idoma socio-cultural organisation, Opiatoha K’ Idoma, have condemned the renewed hostility in Ogobia-Ugboju.

A statement by the Secretary General of the organisation, Chief Adoka Adaji, said aside from the deaths, many people were injured.

He noted that it was unfortunate that the warring parties were not prepared to embrace dialogue for peace to return to the area.

The organisation called on security agencies to wade in and apprehend those behind the dastardly act.

“The government should ensure full presence of military and police patrol teams in the area to forestall further breakdown of law and order because Ogobia is a gateway town; people can’t afford to witness violence in the area during this festive period,’’ Adaji said.

Source: ( Punch Newspaper )