At least 13 persons were killed in a renewed communal crisis among the people of Edikwu District in Ugbokpo in Apa Local Government Area of Benue State.
Witnesses said gunmen in the early hours of Monday laid siege on Edikwu and fired sporadically, killing many people and injuring others.
The sources said so far 13 bodies had been recovered while the whereabouts of several others were unknown.
A source said, “Bodies were even dumped in wells. It’s so sad and frightening that the gunmen, believed to be hired militias, went on a rampage this morning (yesterday) and shot sporadically.”
Another source traced the history of the chieftaincy tussle over the Alegwu stool to 1994, noting that the dispute had since led to several loss of lives as certain contenders to the stool refused to accept the kingmaker’s choice of the late Alegwu, Chief Imoni Otokpa, who died in 2018.
The acting traditional head of Edikwu, Chief David Imoni Otokpa, who reigns in his father’s stead, told newsmen in Makurdi by telephone, that though the matter was in court, the alleged hired militia continued to terrorise his subjects.
Otokpa added that at about 04:30am yesterday hooded gunmen entered his community and shot several people dead, adding that 13 bodies were found as at when they retreated by around 06:00am.
The villagers said at the time of filing this report that troops of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPSH) had taken over the security of the area to forestall further attacks.
The Benue police spokesman, DSP Catherine Anene, confirmed that 13 corpses were recovered from the crisis scene.
DSP Anene said, “Edikwu District, Ukpogbo, in Apa LGA of Benue State was experiencing crises over a chieftaincy affair till 25/05/2020 when the Benue State Government convened a peace meeting that was headed by the Deputy Governor, Engr. Benson Abounu, to put an end to the rancour.
“Peace was restored to the area until 10/8/2020 at about 0400hrs when information was received that about 20 armed men invaded the community and shot sporadically.
“A team of police officers was deployed to the scene where 13 corpses were recovered. An investigation is in progress. Further developments will be communicated.”
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