Nasarawa Violence: Scores killed, houses razed, 30,000 displaced

No fewer than 30,000 persons, mostly
women and children within and around
the affected areas, have fled to other
parts of the state and the neighbouring
Benue state for safety.
The communal clash between the
Ombatse and Alago tribes of Nasarawa
state that began on Friday continued on
Saturday, with the crisis extending to Obi
local government main town and Assakio
area of Lafia east.
The crisis, which started on Friday as a
result of the resistance by Ombatse militia
to the arrest of their member caught with
weapons through a tipoff by Alago
youths, has consumed the entire town of
Assakio in Lafia east and part of Obi local
government area as at the early hours of
Saturday.
In Obi, the resident of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) North Central
Zonal Chairman, Yusuf Ayitogo, was
razed just like that of a former
Commissioner for Agriculture in the state,
Salihu Iyimoga.
The properties were reportedly touched by
members of the Ombatse militia group.
Two cars belonging to the PDP chieftain
were also vandalized.
The youth spent the morning hours of
Saturday attacking Obi village after which
they proceeded to Assakio without any
hinderance from security agencies as they
spent close to three hours in both towns
spraying petrol before starting fires.
Scores of dead bodies littered the town of
Obi as residents remained afraid to
evacuate bodies of victims for fear of
been attacked.
Witnesses told PREMIUM TIMES the fully
armed boys moved in a group chanting
anti-police slogans, and then attacking
anyone in sight.
They then bolted in motorcycles.
Another witness said he saw some boys
arrested by the Army and taken away in
an Hilux van.
“I saw a white HIlux pick with army drop
some boys about twelve of them with one
of the army shouting get down and follow
the bush,” the source said.
The PDP zonal chairman told PREMIUM
TIMES he had relocated his family to
Keana local government area, few
kilometers from the scene of the incident.
“I have relocated to Keana with my family
before thinking of what next to do,” he
said.
Already, no fewer than 30,000 persons,
mostly women and children within and
around the affected areas, have fled to
other parts of the state and neighbouring
Benue state for safety.
Spokesperson for the Nasarawa state
command of the police, Cornelius Ocholi,
wouldn’t comment for this story. When
contacted on telephone, he simply said, “I
am engaged with the commissioner of
police now and would call you later”.
Meanwhile, the state government, in a
state-wide broadcast yesterday
condemned the incident, warning that
government would not “stand by and
watch these heartless criminals in our
state unleash a reign of terror on innocent
citizens of the state”
The state deputy governor, Damishi Luka,
who made the broadcast on behalf of
Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, said
government had taken adequate
measures to bring the situation under
control.
But despite the assurance, there was
apprehension around the state that the
militia groups were mobilizing to attack
more settlements overnight.