Following a violent clash among villagers that resulted in burning of several houses on Wednesday night several residents of Tyo-mu in Fidi Ward of Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State are fleeing the community.
The crises which dates back to some years ago is as a result of struggle for ownership of land between the indigenes, Iharev and the settlers Iparev but tension was said to have began to build among the two warring brothers few days to Christmas in at least five settlements of the community including; Yogbo, Akile, Gagabe, Angbaye and Tyo-mu situated on KM 16, along Makurdi-Gboko road and culminated in burning of houses on Wednesday evening.
Secretary to the Benue State Government, Anthony Ijohor, who visited the area for an on-the-spot assessment, regretted the level of destruction and described the crisis as unexpected and an embarrassment to State Government.
The SSG however warned trouble makers to restrain from embarking on revenge mission as government would do everything within its powers to look into the matter for peace to reign in the community.
Read Also: Family of Benue Assembly Clerk allegedly attacks EFCC officers
District Head of the community, Peter Akaa, told the SSG that after making several failed efforts to resolve the matter, he reported the situation to authorities above him for prompt solution.
The lawmaker representing the area in the State Assembly, Terwase Aondoakaa, said the crisis started festering in December, last year and that the police waded in to the extent that all the parties concerned signed an agreement which some people however failed to obey afterwards.
Aondoakaa stated that by the earlier peace accord, nobody was expected to go to the river bank and mould blocks as the bone of contention was connected with revenue remittance sourced from block moulding.
Many security operatives have been deployed to the affected area even as some fleeing residents were seen moving their property away in vehicles.
