- Two feared killed as communal clash erupts in Taraba state over the reconstruction of a court building
- The police spokesperson, David Misal, confirms the violence but states that no casualty was recorded
- Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, orders the arrest of three herdsmen for violating the law banning open grazing in the state
A communal clash in Mararraban Ba’isa, Donga local government area of Taraba state has reportedly left two persons dead.
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Premium Times, citing accounts by locals reports that the violence which erupted on Thursday, December 28, was between the Buban and Beyen ethnic groups over the reconstruction of a court building.
A local resident who is of the Beyen ethnic group accused the Buban youth of instigating the clash after they took to the streets, destroying property attacking people.
He said: "The Buban youth took to the streets, destroying property attacking people; threatening that no one will re-build the court which they claim is in their territory,” a local resident who is of the Beyen ethnic group said.
“They were attacking us, and this forced us to defend ourselves and retaliate.
‘’This court must be built, because it’s a government property.
“It’s a constituency project initiated by senator representing Southern Zone, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha. So why are they stopping it?”
Another resident not of the two ethnic groups narrated what he said was the cause of the violence.
“The crisis started over re-building of a local court that was close to a mosque. The court was abandoned since. But senator representing Southern zone, Emmanuel Bwacha, initiated the re-building in his constituency projects.
‘’As the work was about to commence, Buban tribal group protested against re-building near mosque, while on the other side, Beyen group which are Bwachas kinsmen also protested threatening not to stop; and crisis ensued.
“For now two people killed, one instantly and the other in the hospital. There are still some with injuries.
"Soldiers from Takum were earlier deployed to intervene. Shortly after their departure, fresh violence erupted in the evening.”
“I saw one dead body instantly and minutes later one of the injured people was said to have died. So two persons killed,’’ the source said asking not to be named for security reasons," the resident stated.
When contacted, the police spokesperson, David Misal, confirmed the violence but stated that no casualty was recorded contrary to the statements of two residents.
“As I am talking to you, security measures have taken following this crisis that ensued between the two groups. No, injury or death was recorded in the violence,” he said.
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In another report, Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, has ordered the arrest of three herdsmen for violating the law banning open grazing in the state and for obstructing the governors’ convoy while returning to Makurdi from Tarka local council.
Channels TV reports that the governor also ordered seizure of over 50 cows belonging to the herdsmen.
The three herdsmen have been taken to the police for investigation and prosecution while the seized cows were put in a detention ranch.
Governor Ortom, after giving the order on Wednesday, December 27 lamented the increased violation of the law banning open grazing in Benue state.
He mentioned that two people were recently killed in Odonto village of Otukpo local council due to an attack by herdsmen, a result of the violation of the anti-open grazing law.
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Source: Naija.ng