15 Houses Burnt As Tiv, Jukun Clash In Makurdi

Mr Ejump

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Several houses have been burnt in Abinsi town Benue State following a clash between Tiv and Jukun ethnic groups.

The clash is coming less than 12 hours after Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom and his Taraba counterpart, Dairus Ishaku promoted peace through a book launch in Wukari, Taraba state.

Abinsi town is located on the busy Makurdi – Gboko federal highway, near the bank of River Benue in Guma local government area.

The clash, it was learnt, started around 6:30pm. But there was no confirmation of death or casualties as at the time of filing this report.

An eyewitness Peter Uke told The Nation about 15 houses belonging to Tiv and Jukuns have been razed down.

Uke said the violence started among suspected cults groups but later turned to an ethnic clash between Jukun and Tiv people.

Ortom and Ishaku on Wednesday launch a book at Federal University of Wukari, in Taraba state to promote peace between Tiv and Jukun.

There was traffic gridlock on the busy Makurdi – Federal Highway as passengers traveling along put up for police arrival.

Our correspondent gathered the new Commissioner of Police Omololu Bishi, who is barely two weeks in the state, has been mobilising his men to bring the situation under control.

NB: communal clashes between jukun and tiv people has occured over the years. it is widely believed that that fights between the two tribes is as old as the time tiv people settled in the benue valley.