Mbakine vs Ojumole: 15 killed, houses burnt down in renewed communal clash in Benue

No fewer than 15 people have been reportedly killed, and several houses set ablaze following a renewed communal clash between the Mbakine and Ojumole communities in Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State.

Sources told newsmen that the violence erupted over the weekend after a minor disagreement between two youths at a local market spiraled into a deadly conflict, leaving scores dead and properties destroyed.

The warring groups are said to be Igede and Tiv-speaking residents of the area, who have coexisted peacefully for over a century until the latest crisis broke out.

Confirming the incident, the Igede National Youth Leader, Mr. Andyson Egbodo, expressed deep concern over the scale of destruction and loss of lives.

“We are shocked about what happened. The crisis occurred between the Ojumole and Mbakine communities in Gwer East LGA. Akpacha Council Ward is an Igede-speaking area, and for over 100 years, they’ve lived peacefully with their Tiv neighbours like brothers and sisters,” he said.

Egbodo added that the conflict, which began on Friday, intensified on Saturday, leading to the complete destruction of Ojumole and the killing of at least 15 people, including women and children.

“The entire Ojumole community was burnt down. The scale of the destruction is unimaginable,” he lamented.

Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command, DSP Udeme Edet, for confirmation were unsuccessful, as her mobile line was unreachable at the time of filing this report.