Communal Clash Claims Two Lives And Thousands Homeless.

 

At least two persons were murdered in cold blood in fresh outbreak of communal clash between the people of Dzev in Shangev-ya District and Mbakyaa, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State. Also, thousands of others were rendered homeless as over 2,000 houses and shops built by the Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA) in Dzev area were burnt.

The attack was allegedly masterminded by hoodlums from Mbakyaa. The attackers also destroyed economic trees, foodstuffs as well as yam and rice farms. One of the victims was a woman who was killed on her sick bed at a private hospital in the community. The second victim was a young man who died as a result of bullet wounds he received during the attack.

The two communities have been at war in the last couple of years over a boundary issue, but the crisis was resolved both at the lower and the Appeal Court in favour of Dzev community. It was gathered that this was the second time the Mbakyaa people were launching attacks on their Dzev neighbours. The first was carried about eight years ago.

The latest attack, which started a few days ago, led to an exodus of people from Dzev community. The people are said to be fleeing to neighbouring Vandeikya Local Government for safety, while others are taking refuge in adjourning settlements within Shangev-ya District as well as Adikpo town, the headquarters of Kwande Local Government.

One of the fleeing from Dzev, who refused to disclose his name for fear of attack, said a young man had cut down a tree beside his house and got planks from it to roof his newly constructed house, but in the process, youths from Mbakyaa came and packed the planks away. According to the source, on getting wind if the development, Dzev youths mobilised and brought back the planks. But what followed, he added, was that hoodlums from Mbakyaa came back and started to set houses ablaze in Dzev.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Daniel Ezeala, confirmed the incident. He, however, said that relative peace had returned to the area. The PPRO urged the displaced people to return to their homes while plans were on to arrest the perpetrators of the attack.