Following the outbreak of a clash between warring groups of armed robbers and vigilante members, fear now reigns in affected communities.
File photo used only for illustrative purpose
Panic and tension have permeated Okpokwu local government area of Benue State where four persons believed to be natives of Okpoga and Ingle were killed in a clash between a gang of suspected armed robbers and members of the vigilante group in the area.
According to Punch, trouble started when the leader of the gang which was been terrorising Okpoga was arrested and detained at the police headquarters in Makurdi and members of the gang accused the vigilante group of reporting their leader to the police.
It was learnt that members of the gang killed a member of the vigilante group, thereby sparking off retaliation from the vigilante group which allegedly killed a member of the gang even as their leader was still in detention.
On discovering that the deceased member of the vigilante group in Okpoga was a native of a nearby village called Ingle in Edumoga district, trouble started between Okpoga and Ingle people who retaliated as a commercial motorcycle rider found himself in the area.
In all, four persons were killed and many injured between Monday and Wednesday as drums of war began to sound at the boundary between Okpoga, headquarters of Okpokwu local government and Ingle, a stone throw from Okpoga.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Moses Yamu, said four persons were killed and that six police patrol teams have been dispatched to the area to forestall further breakdown of law and rider.
Yamu said the area commander in Otukpo has been directed by the police commissioner to ensure the return of peace and called on those fleeing their abodes to return as the police have brought the situation under control.