12 killed, houses razed in communal crisis

John Akpodovhan, Makurdi - 23.07.2008

IN spite of the threats by Governor Gabriel Suswam to dethrone traditional rulers should there be a breakdown of law and order in their domains, two communities in Apa Local Government Area of Benue State decided to settle their scores on the battlefield and at the end of the hostilities, over 12 persons were killed and many houses razed down.

Ataganyi and Omelemu communities destroyed property worth millions of naira.

Nigerian Tribune learnt from fleeing members of the communities that the crisis broke out over a disputed piece of land where Rockbridge, a construction company, excavated stones and sand which it used in the construction of Ugbokpo/ Oweto road.

The hostilities were sparked off when the people of Omelemu went to the area in dispute to collect stones and were challenged by their neighbours, the Ataganyis, who questioned the rights of the Omelemu to trespass on a piece of land belonging to them.

Sources disclosed that the Omelemu people were angered by the effrontery of their neighbours and started setting their opponents houses on fire which led to their scampering for safety and they later reinforced to retaliate.

He stated that Ojantellle, neighbours of the two warring communities, had to desert their homes for fear of being attacked by the warring communities before police reinforcements arrived the scene.

The Divisional Police Officer, Apa Local Government, Jerry Okeke, described the situation as breakdown of law and order, saying adequate measures had been taken to strengthen the policemen in the communities in order to secure lives and property.