No fewer than two people were said to have been killed in a communal clash between Tse Njor and Opaha Adoka in Gwer West and Otukpo local government area of Benue state respectively.
During the crisis, four people were reported to have been injured and one person missing.
The incident which started at the weekend turned bloody on Tuesday.
A local who pleaded not to be named said that a farmer from Opaha Adoka had gone to his farm which he planned to clear for cultivation but was shocked to see a strange person from Tse Njor who had already cleared the land.
According to the local, “the farmer from Opaha Adoka later went to the farm with some of his people on Monday and discovered that some people numbering about 15 from Tse Njor were already there.
“From there, a fight broke out leading to the death of two people and several others injured.”
When contacted, the chairman of Otukpo local government, George Ali confirmed the clash but said that one person died and three others were injured during the communal clash.
According to him, “the report we gathered is that a farmer from this (Adoka) axis went to his farm and discovered that someone had cleared the farmland and he reported the development to the traditional ruler of his area.
“The following day the farmer went to the place to see who had cleared his farmland and had to go with some people but when he got there he met about 15 people there working and fight broke out.
“What I heard is that one person was killed and the body is at the mortuary now, I later gathered that one person from this (Adoka) axis is missing and yet to be found.
Ali said that he and the chairman of Gwer West council, Mrs Grace Iganbon with the traditional rulers of the two communities had met with the Security Adviser, Col Paul Hemba and Police Commissioner Akingbola Olatunji and had resolved the issue.
When called on the phone to get her own side of the report, the chairman of Gwer West local government, Mrs Grace Iganbon did not pick up calls made to her cellphone.
Meanwhile, the State Command confirmed the communal clash and said that four persons were injured.
According to the State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Catherine Anene added that more policemen have been deployed to the area to forestall further crisis.
“It is true that some people in Otukpo and Gwer West fought over farmland and four people were injured and currently receiving treatment in the hospital,” she said.
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