Mbasombu vs Mbaivur crisis: One dead in renewed crisis in Benue

By Titus Atondu, Makurdi

No fewer than one person has died in the renewed crisis between Mbaivur  and Mbasombu communities of Gwer -West Local Government area of the State.

An eye witness who  spoke to Nigerian NewsDirect on condition of  anonymity via telephone conversation on Tuesday  disclosed that  an indigene of  Mbaivur was killed by Mbasombo  people while he was working on his farm last Friday.

He further revealed that after the incident, the people demanded that the perpetrators  must not go unpunished and gave date line.

“Unable to produce the perpetrators after the time frame given had elapsed even when the Police were involved, the Mbaivur people went on reprisal attack.

“Some people died during this crisis and they were kept in the mortuary and when this man was killed in his farm, last Friday, they removed the corpses from the mortuary. It was during their burial, that those who killed the man came and stated  shooting sporadically. However,the people succeeded in burying the five persons and after that, not satisfied with what happened, Mbaivur people came and attacked Mbasombo people leading to the burning down of a market square. I wouldn’t know if there are casualties,” the witness stated.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations, Benue State command, SP. Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident, stating that several houses were burnt but there were no casualties.

She also said policemen have been swiftly deployed to the area to avoid further break down of law and order in the area.