Houses Burnt As Residents Flee From Communal Clash In Benue

Several houses have been destroyed, and residents fled their homes following a communal clash between communities in Gwer East and Konshisha Local Government Areas of Benue State.

According to Daily Post, it was gathered that the incident occurred over the weekend between the two communities that has engaged in reccuring communal conflicts in the past three months over age long differences.

A source who spoke on condition of anonymity said the latest incident occurred when the Mbaiase community in Masev of Gwer East LGA, launched a surprise attack on the Gbinde community in Mbagusa, Mbatser, ShangevTiev of Konshisha LGA.

He said the fresh attack on Gbinde community by Mbaiase community was a reprisal attack.

The renewed clashes between the two warring communities was confirmed by the media aide to the Executive Chairman of Konshisha LGA, Terhide Fave.

He admitted that the fresh attack occurred on Saturday evening and resulted in the destruction of yet to be ascertained number of houses and properties .

Fave said there was no loss of lives during the attack but it led to destruction of properties and dislocation of families of which many have fled to neighboring communities for safety.

“Residents have fled the area. Many houses were burnt but I can’t ascertain the numbers now,” he said.

The Chairman of Konshisha LGA, Terfa Moses Chikyaa, who visited the area, condemned the attack and urged the communities to remain calm and not react violently.

“The chairman advised the affected people not to take the law into their own hands as the state government would take steps to bring the perpetrators to justice,” Chikyaa said.

Efforts to get the comments of the spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command, CSP Catherine Anene, were not successful as calls to her mobile telephone was not returned.