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More than 50 houses were destroyed in a clash between Tiv and Jukun communities at Abinsi in Guma local government area of Benue state.
The crisis which started on Thursday around 5pm was said to have been sparked off following argument by two commercial motorcycle riders, popularly known as Okada, which resulted in a fight.
Though no life was lost, the rival Okada riders were said to have grouped themselves and started burning houses of their perceived enemies.
The situation, Blueprint Weekend learnt, led most of the resident in the ancient town of Abinsi to desert their houses for fear of the unknown.
When our correspondent visited the affected area, residents, mostly children women and the aged, were still seen packing their belongings to take refuge in safer locations.
Governor Samuel Ortom, who visited the flashpoint to assess the damage, expressed worry over the level of destruction caused, and urged security agencies to mop up illegal arms in the area and across the state.
Ortom also directed the security agencies to ensure that they apprehended those responsible for the crisis to serve as a deterrent to others.
He charged the traditional rulers to expose and report criminal elements in their domains to security agencies.
“I am going to set a panel on Monday to look into the perennial crisis in the area so as to ascertain the root causes of the crises. The panel will also find out those that were involved in the crisis. We want to put the crisis to a permanent end,” he said.
He sued for calm among the residents, stressing that the security agencies were already on ground to forestall further break down of law and order.
“Under my watch, no tribe will be allowed to harass another resident irrespective of where they come from be they indigenes or not. We will protect everybody that lives here so long as they live within the ambit of the laws,” he said.
Earlier, the District Head of Abinsi, Chief Christopher Abeke, informed the governor that what turned into the crisis started as a misunderstanding between two young boys of Tiv and Jukun extractions.
