Fresh outbreak of violence in Benue State has left five persons dead – including a lecturer at the College of Education, Makurdi.
Sources who spoke to Punch said the lecturer, Dr. Julius Kpagh, was murdered in cold blood
in Katsina Ala, while the other four persons were killed during a clash
between factional groups at Tse Igbe in Abaji, Katsina Ala Local
Government Area.
It is understood that the killings in Abaji settlement began as a clash between two militant groups and then spiralled out of control.
“There was a clash between two factional groups on Saturday. One is called 20:20 and the other is called Tor Abaji. The groups were engaged in supremacy battle and this led to the death of four persons. One of them was beheaded,” an eyewitness said.
“It was like a vengeance mission carried out by the 20:20 group because there was a similar attack launched recently by the Tor Abaji group, where some of the 20:20 members died.”
Many people were said to have been injured and houses burnt in the clash which lasted several hours.
The slain lecturer, meanwhile, met his untimely death after a stroll in the evening to visit a sick colleague within Katsina Ala town.
“Unfortunately, he did not return. And this, naturally, became a matter of concern to members of the family, who after several phone calls to his GSM number, had to report the case at the police station in Katsina Ala,” said a family member, before adding that his body was discovered the following day with blood gushing from his mouth.
Spokesman for the Benue State Police Command, ASP Moses Yamu, confirmed the two incidents, saying investigations were already underway.
It is understood that the killings in Abaji settlement began as a clash between two militant groups and then spiralled out of control.
“There was a clash between two factional groups on Saturday. One is called 20:20 and the other is called Tor Abaji. The groups were engaged in supremacy battle and this led to the death of four persons. One of them was beheaded,” an eyewitness said.
“It was like a vengeance mission carried out by the 20:20 group because there was a similar attack launched recently by the Tor Abaji group, where some of the 20:20 members died.”
Many people were said to have been injured and houses burnt in the clash which lasted several hours.
The slain lecturer, meanwhile, met his untimely death after a stroll in the evening to visit a sick colleague within Katsina Ala town.
“Unfortunately, he did not return. And this, naturally, became a matter of concern to members of the family, who after several phone calls to his GSM number, had to report the case at the police station in Katsina Ala,” said a family member, before adding that his body was discovered the following day with blood gushing from his mouth.
Spokesman for the Benue State Police Command, ASP Moses Yamu, confirmed the two incidents, saying investigations were already underway.
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