www.odogwublog.com reports that
there is war ongoing in Benue state over fish pond. And at the last count, no
fewer than 60 persons were feared killed at the weekend in a bloody communal
crisis
between Ologba and Egba communities of Agatu Local Government Area of
Benue State.
The crisis which left many with varying degrees of injury was a fallout
of a lingering dispute between the fishing communities over the ownership of a
fishing pond in the area.
The bloody clash between the sister villages came on the heels of last
month’s outrageous conflict in Egba community which claimed close to 100 lives
when suspected Fulani herdsmen invaded the community.
According to our source, “the truth is that there is no love lost
between the two communities whose preoccupation is mainly fishing.
“Unfortunately, the bitter rivalry between the communities and
bottled-up anger for one another has lingered for several years and sometimes
resulting in intermittent skirmishes; this latest conflict could have claimed
over 60 lives because more bodies are still being recovered from the two
communities.
“As I speak to you today, (Saturday) the Egba people attacked Ologba
during a funeral procession early this morning, after the Friday attack, just
when the people were trying to bury their dead. So many people were killed in
that attack and more bodies are still being recovered from the scene so we
expect the causality figure to rise.”
Speaking on the matter, Sir John Ngbede, the Peoples Democratic Party,
PDP, deputy governorship candidate at the last elections, who hails from the
area, said the communities have been embroiled in long standing issues.
Ngbede also confirmed that the crisis which started Friday evening had
displaced so any persons who now live as refugees at Obagaji, the Agatu Local
Government Area Headquarters.
When contacted, the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hyacinth
Dagala, explained that the villagers had been fighting over a fish pond for
some time.
Dagala, however, pointed out that the latest crisis allegedly broke out
as a result of deep rooted suspicion by the Egba community on allegations that
the Ologba people had organised last month’s deadly Fulani invasion against
them.
He said the Police had so far recorded 23 deaths but added that he was
yet to update the figures and the report as at press time.
The Police Commissioner however assured that security had been beefed up in the feuding communities adding that investigations into the matter had also commenced.
The Police Commissioner however assured that security had been beefed up in the feuding communities adding that investigations into the matter had also commenced.
War in Benue as 60 killed in battle over fish pond
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Sunday, April 19, 2015
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