[allAfrica.com]  [Life_Over_Debt]


Six Killed, 100 Houses Razed in Communal Clash

This Day (Lagos)
NEWS
March 23, 2004
Posted to the web March 23, 2004

By Daniel Ior
Makurdi, Benue
No fewer than east six people have been confirmed killed and over 100 houses
razed in a violent clash between natives and other inhabitants of Agboghol, in
southern Makurdi, the Benue State capital. Unconfirmed reports, however, put
the death toll at about ten.
Over 2,000 victims of the violence including women and children are now taking
refuge in churches, school buildings and in homes of relatives or friends.
Benue State Police Commis-sioner, Mr. Johnson Uzoegbunam said 22 people have so
far been arrested in connection with the crises. On the number of deaths he
said, "so far we have had six deaths," adding "we are still combing the crises
area," where some people have been arrested with machetes, knives and guns.
The crises, THISDAY learnt, started in the late hours of Sunday when a group of
youths operating under the auspices of MINDA, a pressure group, organised
themselves and spontaneously started burning down the houses of other
inhabitants of Agboghol area, but who are not natives of the area.
The crisis said to be a perennial problem but which has never been so severe
and destructive, it was learnt followed dissatisfaction being expressed by the
natives who have been loosing their lands to Makurdi the Benue State capital.
The natives, it was learnt, are worried that although their lands are being
swallowed up by the expanding nature of the town, they were not being paid any
compensation. The natives therefore decided to first vent their anger on people
who are inhabiting the areas but who are said to be from such other local
governments like Vandeikya, Ushongo, Konshsha, Gboko among others.
The natives made up of mainly Masev, Iharev and Nongov Clans are alleging
marginalisation both in development as well as appointment into positions of
trust. Signs of the crises first emerged in the Third Republic during the
tenure of Rev. Fr. Moses Adasu, but were effectively nipped in the bud.
Akume during his visit to the crisis area directed the indigenes of the area in
his government, some of who are being fingered in the crisis to assist the
security agencies in ensuring that the crisis is brought under control.
He said the crisis if allowed to degenerate could affect the forthcoming local
government elections scheduled for March 27.
Akume who allegedly drove to the crisis area in his newly acquired bulletproof
car also gave stern warning at Government House saying those responsible for
the crisis would be brought to book. "This is a shame.
This is unacceptable. Those who caused this must be arrested and brought to
book. But law and order must first be restored."
Fighting refused to abate even when the governor visited the area. He therefore
directed the state police commissioner Johnson Uzoegbunam to draft enough
policemen to the crisis area to stop the killings.

   

  =============================================================================
   Copyright © 2004 This Day. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica
                         Global Media (allAfrica.com).
  =============================================================================