By George Okoh
Ten people were on Friday killed in a renewed communal clash between the people of Ezza and Effium in Ado, Benue State, and Ohaukwu in Ebonyi State.
According to a local sources, the incident happened on Friday. The source said it was not clear what led to the clash but said several persons were killed.
When contacted, Chairman of Ado Local Government Area, Mr James Oche, confirmed the report to reporters on telephone that 10 people were killed in the renewed communal clash.
While condemning the killings, the Ado council boss said the crisis had put a clog in the wheel of the peace process his administration was working assiduously to achieve.
Oche, who called on the Ezza and Effium people to immediately sheathe their swords and give peace a chance, condoled with the families of those who lost their lives in the communal clash.
The chairman disclosed further that the police, in collaboration with the newly formed Community Volunteer Guards in the local government, were able to rescue three people who were abducted by suspected herdsmen in the area.
The council boss said some armed kidnappers suspected to be Fulani herdsmen had on Thursday laid siege to the road between Utonkon and Okpoga, stopped a Lagos bound commercial vehicle from Oju LGA and took five passengers hostage.
“Operation Puff Adder Police Unit and the newly formed Community Volunteer Guards in Ado Local Government successfully confronted a group of Fulani kidnappers and secured the release of three of five persons abducted,” he said.
Meanwhile in another separate incident,14 armed bandits were killed in the early hours of Sunday during a gunfight with the police in Katsina-Ala, Benue State.
A local source disclosed that the armed bandits numbering over 50 had driven in Toyota Corolla vcars to the police station where some of their gang members were being detained.
According to the source, the bandits opened fire on the police station, “but with the police on alert, they fired back leading to a huge rate of casualties on the bandits’ side.”
“Surprisingly, the police gunned down over 10 of these bandits, while many of them escaped with gun wounds. We also heard that two of them were captured alive,” the source added.
When contacted, the Benue State Police Command spokeswoman DSP Catherine Anene confirmed that 14 of the bandits were brought down by the police during the attack.
‘It is no longer news that series of operations are going on in Kastina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State. These activities are geared towards a total clampdown on bandits activities in the area.
‘On 19th June 2021, five bandits were arrested and detained at Kastina-Ala Police Division for investigation and prosecution.
‘On 20th June 2021 at about 0130 hrs more than 50 other gang members of the detainees mobilized and invaded the police station to rescue their counterparts.
‘Officers at the division who were already at alert engaged them in a gun duel and were able to subdue the bandits. Fourteen of them were brought down during the exchange of fire, while several others escaped with gunshot injuries.’
Anene added that security operatives in the area were currently on the trail of suspected bandits who escaped.
“The good people of Kastina-Ala town are advised to remain calm and avail every useful information about the bandits to the police,’ she said.