Thursday, June 27, 2024 -At least 11 people have been killed in a communal conflict between the indigenous Alago people and the Tiv community in Keana Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
Philip Nongu, president of Mzough U Tiv
(MUT), Nasarawa State chapter, confirmed the fatalities to journalists,
including students from the Federal Girls College, Keana, who were trapped in
their hostels.
The conflict is believed to have been
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, confirmed the crisis, stating
that one person had been confirmed dead and four wounded.
Ahemba noted that the conflict, which began
at the Benue/Nasarawa border, later escalated into Keana.
He said the situation has been brought under
control with security operatives deployed in the area and called for calm among
the warring parties, stating 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.
Mohammed Omadefu, a member representing
Keana constituency in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, 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.
He reassured the community that security agencies are actively
working to apprehend the perpetrators.
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