No fewer than 45 people including a family of seven have been killed following a gang clash in the Gbagir community of Ukum Local Government Area in Benue State.
The incident which reportedly occurred on Tuesday, witnessed the engagement of local militias in an internal conflict of supremacy, inciting residents to flee their communities.
Reports revealed that most of the fatalities involved members of the rival militias, while others remained missing as of Wednesday.
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The incident was said to have started after a Taraba militia leader was abducted along with his family and was subsequently killed despite obtaining N5m ransom.
The situation escalated, inciting retaliation from rival groups. In the process of the crossfire was a family of seven in Tse Adzandeh Mbasaa, Mbajiga, Ityuluv, Torov, and others, all members of the Adzandeh family.
There has been a resurgence of the crisis in the Middlebelt, Benue State, with many communities displaced and recorded deaths since November 2023.
THE WHISTLER gathered that towards the end of last year to date, there have been recurring attacks in Agatu, Apa, Kwande and Ukum LGAs, and this has led to the displacement of many residents.