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One killed, several houses burnt in clash between two families over land in Benue

One killed, several houses burnt in clash between two families over land in Benue

One person was reportedly killed on Sunday morning while several
others were injured and many houses burnt in a renewed clash between two
families of Mbapen clan in Taraku town of Gwer East Local Government
Area in Benue State.

It was gathered that the deceased victim identified as Tseaa Wanpera
was a director in the services of the state government in the ministry
of arts and culture.

It was also learned that the whereabouts of one person remains
unknown following the deadly clash, which constitutes an age-long crisis
reignited as a result of land dispute between two households (Aku and
Mon) that are great grandchildren of Mbaakemcha, in Mbapen Clan.

Mbaakemcha is one of the Tiv communities inhabiting Taraku, a
bustling rural town of about 15-minutes’ drive to Otukpo, headquarters
of Idoma kingdom.

A witness told Daily Trust correspondent on phone that the unsettled
dispute escalated overtime to such extent that the brothers were usually
on war path, a development which had prompted the police to mount
regular surveillance in the vicinity.

The witness added that fresh trouble began to brew at the weekend
when one of the warring factions allegedly hired some mercenaries to
unleash terror on the family of the deceased who had travelled home from
his Makurdi base to attend his elder brother’s burial ceremony.

The witness further explained that the attackers seized the
opportunity of the funeral rites to allegedly launch gun attacks on few
mourners left at home after the burial of their family’s patriarch in
the early hours of Sunday, setting the deceased (Tseaa Wanpera) ablaze
in the process.

“His (Wanpera) in-law was shot while one Mr. Iorahom is still
missing. Many houses were also set ablaze in the affected area and still
in flames as we speak,” the local eyewitness said.

Another villager who witnessed the crisis however said the police
arrived the scene of the incident and that there was palpable tension in
Taraku town, asserting that “All businesses have been closed since
Saturday when the first sign of trouble manifested,” he said.

Spokesperson of the State Police Command, DSP Catherine Anene, who
confirmed the crisis said she was yet to receive any death report.

“Houses were set ablaze but I have not received any death report. Victims are receiving treatment.” she added.

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