Around 60 people have perished over ownership of a fishing pond in
Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.
This is due to a bloody communal crisis between Ologba and Egba
communities of Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.
The crisis began over a fallout of a lingering dispute between the
fishing communities over a fishing pond.
The latest crisis between the sister communities comes a month after
the conflict in Egba community which claimed close to 100 lives when
suspected Fulani herdsmen invaded the community.According to
sources,"the truth is that there is no love lost between the two
communities whose preoccupation is mainly fishing.
"Unfortunately, the bitter rivalry between the communities and
bottled-up anger for one another has lingered for several years and
sometimes resulting in intermittent skirmishes; this latest conflict
could have claimed over 60 lives because more bodies are still being
recovered from the two communities.
"As I speak to you today, (Saturday) the Egba people attacked Ologba
during a funeral procession early this morning, after the Friday
attack, just when the people were trying to bury their dead. So many
people were killed in that attack and more bodies are still being
recovered from the scene so we expect the causality figure to
rise."Peoples Democratic Party's deputy governorship candidate at the
last elections,Sir John Ngbede who hails from the area, revealed that
communities have been having long standing issues.
Ngbede also confirmed the recent crisis and said that many people now
live as refugees at Obagaji, the Agatu Local Government Area
Headquarters.
When contacted, the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hyacinth
Dagala, explained that this was not the first clash and that the
communities have been fighting over the fish pond for some time now.
Dagala, however, pointed out that the latest crisis allegedly broke
out as a result of deep rooted suspicion by the Egba community on
allegations that the Ologba people had organised last month's deadly
Fulani invasion against them.
Th Police has however revealed that as of last count, the recorded 23
deaths due to crisis but they are yet to update the figures and the
report as at press time.
Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.
This is due to a bloody communal crisis between Ologba and Egba
communities of Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.
The crisis began over a fallout of a lingering dispute between the
fishing communities over a fishing pond.
The latest crisis between the sister communities comes a month after
the conflict in Egba community which claimed close to 100 lives when
suspected Fulani herdsmen invaded the community.According to
sources,"the truth is that there is no love lost between the two
communities whose preoccupation is mainly fishing.
"Unfortunately, the bitter rivalry between the communities and
bottled-up anger for one another has lingered for several years and
sometimes resulting in intermittent skirmishes; this latest conflict
could have claimed over 60 lives because more bodies are still being
recovered from the two communities.
"As I speak to you today, (Saturday) the Egba people attacked Ologba
during a funeral procession early this morning, after the Friday
attack, just when the people were trying to bury their dead. So many
people were killed in that attack and more bodies are still being
recovered from the scene so we expect the causality figure to
rise."Peoples Democratic Party's deputy governorship candidate at the
last elections,Sir John Ngbede who hails from the area, revealed that
communities have been having long standing issues.
Ngbede also confirmed the recent crisis and said that many people now
live as refugees at Obagaji, the Agatu Local Government Area
Headquarters.
When contacted, the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hyacinth
Dagala, explained that this was not the first clash and that the
communities have been fighting over the fish pond for some time now.
Dagala, however, pointed out that the latest crisis allegedly broke
out as a result of deep rooted suspicion by the Egba community on
allegations that the Ologba people had organised last month's deadly
Fulani invasion against them.
Th Police has however revealed that as of last count, the recorded 23
deaths due to crisis but they are yet to update the figures and the
report as at press time.
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