Over 15 people have been killed and numerous houses razed following a renewed communal clash between the Mbakine and Ojumole communities in Gwer-East Local Government Area of Benue State.
According to local sources, the violence erupted over the weekend when what began as a minor disagreement between two youths at a marketplace quickly escalated into deadly conflict. The fighting resulted in the complete destruction of the Ojumole community.
The warring parties are reportedly from the Igede and Tiv ethnic groups who have coexisted peacefully in the area for over a century, making the sudden outbreak of violence particularly shocking to residents and authorities.
Eyewitness Account
Andyson Egbodo, the Igede National Youth leader, confirmed the incident and expressed shock at the scale of destruction and loss of life.
"We are shocked about what happened. The incident occurred in Gwer East between Ojumole and Mbakine communities in the LGA," Egbodo stated. "In that LGA, the Akpacha Council Ward is an Igede speaking community and they have all been living peacefully like brothers and sisters with their Tiv neighbours for over 100 years without any crisis."
He further explained the timeline of events: "It all started on Friday and escalated to Saturday. The entire Ojumole was burnt down, 15 persons were killed, including women and children."
Egbodo emphasized that the violence was "uncalled for" given the long history of peaceful coexistence between the communities.
Police Response
Attempts to get an official statement from DSP Udeme Edet, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, were unsuccessful as she could not be reached on her mobile telephone at the time of reporting.
This incident adds to a concerning pattern of communal conflicts in Benue State, which has experienced various forms of inter-community violence in recent years. Local authorities have yet to announce specific measures to address the situation or prevent further escalation.
The affected communities are located in Gwer-East LGA, where the Akpacha Council Ward houses both Igede and Tiv speaking peoples who have historically maintained peaceful relations until this recent outbreak of violence.
