ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The chairman of Ado Local Government, Benue State, James Oche, has called for the deployment of more security men in some communities in the Ado Local Government Area of Benue State, following the killing of 28 people in the area.
He said that the crisis started in Ebonyi State and spread to the Ezza community in Benue State.
The Punch reports that the attack, which stemmed from the crisis, began on Monday and lasted until Wednesday, with some properties destroyed.
Recall that there has been a long history of clannishness between communities in Ebonyi and Benue states.
Oche said that one of the largest markets in the Ezza community in the local government was completely destroyed.
“The crisis is between the Effunn and Ezza people; the crisis started in Ebonyi State and escalated to communities in Benue State.
“What I heard was that someone from one of the communities desecrated one of their shrines, and instead of settling their crisis in Ebonyi, they moved the crisis to Benue, where over 28 people have been killed on this side as at last count today,” he said.
The chairman stated further that security personnel have been deployed to the affected areas but regretted the loss of lives.
“Women and children were killed, and property worth several millions of naira was destroyed. For instance, at Ulayi ward, they sacked five of the ten council wards, and the second-largest market in the council was destroyed,” he lamented.