45 Killed In Communal Clash In Benue State

MAKURDI, Federal Republic of Nigeria. A communal clash between Ologba and Egba communities in Agatu Local Government area of Benue State has led to the death of about 45 persons.

But the state’s Commissioner of Police, Hycinth Dagala, while confirming the incident, said that only 23 persons were killed.

Sunday Tribune learnt that the crisis between the two communities started on Friday over suspicions that the Ologba community might have connived with the Fulani herdsmen in the March 1, 2015 invasion.

It will be recalled that Egba community in the council area was attacked by Fulani herdsmen on March 1, where over hundred persons were killed.

It was gathered that people of Egba community only used a fish pond as smokescreen to unleash terror on the Ologba community but a source stated that since the last Fulani invasion of Egba community, the Egba people had been accusing their kinsmen in Ologba of organising the attack on them.

Former commissioner of works in the state, who is an indigene of Agatu, Honourable John Ngbede, who confirmed the communal clash, said that the communities had a long standing issue.

Ngbede said many people were injured following the crisis, which started on Friday evening and that they were now refugees in Ogbagaji, the headquarters of the Agatu LGA.

The police commissioner explained that the villagers had been fighting over a fish pond and that the renewed crisis was as a result of suspicion by the Egba community that the Ologba people had organised the recent deadly Fulani invasion against them.

Credit: Tribune (Nigeria)