No fewer than 11 people were reportedly killed in a communal conflict between the indigenous Alago people and the Tiv community in Keana Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
A resident of Mzough U Tiv (MUT), Nasarawa State chapter, Philip Nongu, confirmed the fatalities to newsmen, including students from the Federal Girls College, Keana, who were trapped in their hostels.
It was gathered that the conflict was triggered by a land dispute at the Benue/Nasarawa border community.
A witness stated that four people were initially killed—two from Alago and two from Tiv—with many houses burnt and several individuals wounded.
The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Public Affairs, Peter Ahemba, also confirmed the sad incident, saying that one person had been confirmed dead and four wounded.
Ahemba, who noted that the conflict, which began at the Benue/Nasarawa border, later escalated into Keana, said the situation has been brought under control with security operatives deployed in the area and called for calm among the warring parties
He explained that violence and destruction do not provide solutions, urging people not to resort to reprisal attacks but to allow peace to reign.
Tiv community in Nasarawa State, under the umbrella of the Tiv Development Association (TIDA), has condemned the violent clash.
President of the association, Simeon Apusu, expressed regret over the displacement of hundreds of Tiv farmers in Keana town and nearby villages.
Apusu stressed that violence is counterproductive and encouraged dialogue as the best means to resolve conflicts.
He also appealed to the state and federal governments to expedite the ongoing boundary demarcation process between Nasarawa and Benue states to provide a permanent solution to the land disputes.
A member representing Keana constituency in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Mohammed Omadefu, called for calm among his constituents.
Omadefu condemned the killings of innocent farmers in his constituency and expressed concern over the ongoing violence, especially during the farming period.
The lawmaker reassured the community that security agencies are actively working to apprehend the perpetrators.
Source: Daily Post
