Scores slaughtered as bandits clash over revenue collection in Benue
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Gunmen
Scores people have been reportedly killed in attacks on Chito community of Ukum local government area of Benue State.
Witnesses according to Dailytrust, said the fresh killings took place in the same area where at least five persons were killed few days ago.
The residents said bandits have been wasting lives over rivalry on who should dictate the pace of revenue collection in local markets.
A witness who doesn’t want to be mentioned said Friday killings were a revenge by one group of the bandits against another.
“The gangs are just going to each other’s village in retaliation. Yesterday, (Friday) a militia group in retaliation of the incident few days ago accosted road users along the Chito-Zaki-Biam and unleashed terror on many people, including a would-be groom who was also killed,” he said.
While corroborating the witnesses, a prominent politician from the area, Chief Ayati Shima said that banditry which has been constrained to three council wards of the affected local government had existed too long without any solution in sight.
“It’s true. I didn’t know the exact number but I hear people were killed in that area. It’s the home local government of Senator Emmanuel Udende and some of us are disturbed that we are not hearing anything from him.”
“A lot needs to be done because the political class from the area, including me have failed as far as I’m concerned. We have failed the people because politics is meant to proffer solution to such things and we are failing to proffer solution to these banditry activities. It’s very unfortunate,” Shima said.
