Government demands probe as 28 killed in Benue clashes

No fewer than 28 people have been killed in some communities in the Ado Local Government Area of Benue State.

As gathered by our correspondent, the attack, which stemmed from the crisis, began on Monday and lasted until Wednesday, with some properties destroyed.

According to the chairman of the Ado local government, James Oche, the crisis started in Ebonyi State and spread to the Ezza community in Benue State.

There has been a long history of clannishness between communities in Ebonyi and Benue states.

Oche said that one of the largest markets in the Ezza community in the local government was completely destroyed.

“The crisis is between the Effunn and Ezza people; the crisis started in Ebonyi State and escalated to communities in Benue State.

“What I heard was that someone from one of the communities desecrated one of their shrines, and instead of settling their crisis in Ebonyi, they moved the crisis to Benue, where over 28 people have been killed on this side as at last count today.

The chairman said that security personnel have been deployed to the affected areas but regretted the loss of lives.

“Women and children were killed, and property worth several millions of naira was destroyed. For instance, at Ulayi ward, they sacked five of the 10 council wards, and the second-largest market in the council was destroyed.

The chairman called for the deployment of more security men in the area.

Efforts to get the reaction of the state command spokesperson, Catherine Anene, were not successful as her phone rang out.

GOGAN TV