Scores have been confirmed hospitalised while were others injured in a communal clash that followed a power tussle between the people of Ugboenyim, a border community between Ebonyi and Benue states.
Ugboenyim, an Izzi speaking community, is anthropologically Ebonyi State and geographically Benue State.
The people are under Ado Local Government Area of Benue State, and are part of the southern senatorial zone of the state.
DAILY POST gathered that the power tussle among members of the community has claimed several lives, with properties worth millions of naira damaged, since it commenced in 2006.
Although frantic efforts were made to resolve the crisis, the people recently returned to the trenches with many sustaining grievous injuries from different weapons, including canes, machetes and gunshots when the two warring factions clashed.
The crisis led to destruction of domestic livestock including goats, native cow and dogs, while properties were also looted in the melee.
Some of those injured include Mr Chukwuma Iboko, Benard Ukpa, and Nwofor Chukwuemeka.
They alleged that they were attacked by those who call themselves ‘Plan B Club’ in the community and accused one Romanus Ishiali, said to be the group’s leader, of being behind the attack.
They explained that they were tied up like common criminals and flogged with canes and machetes on the ground that they didn’t participate in communal work in the community.
But according to them, there was no such work in the area.
Mrs Obaleze Eto said her goat which she was preparing to use to perform burial rites of her late child, was forcefully taken away from her by the group.
“Romanus came and collected a goat I wanted to use for the burial of my child and left without telling me my offence.
“I waited for him to bring it back to me but he refused. I bought another goat for the burial rites. Up till now, that goat has not been returned to me,” she said
Chief Omogo Ijere, village head of the community, told DAILY POST that members of the Plan B Club in the area have been terrorizing the people, attacking, maiming them and looting their properties, which forced him to report their actions to the police in Igumali, Benue State.
“When, I was coming back after reporting the matter, I was called by one of my children and warned not to return to our place, that this Plan B Club people have blocked our community and are very armed,” he stated.
But Romanus Ishiali denied all the allegations against him.
He told DAILY POST that Chief Omogo Ijere’s faction were the ones looting domestic animals and properties and forcefully harvesting yams and other people’s crops in the community.
Ishiali accused the Senate Deputy Chief Whip and senator representing Ebonyi North, Barrister Onyekachi Nwebonyi, of sponsoring the faction.
“Our lives are under threat, we have been marked for elimination. They have been looking for me to kill me.
“Senator Nwebonyi has been arresting our people and imprisoning them in Benue State just because we refused to follow him. He offered me money and motorcycle and I rejected it because I don’t want those things and that is the cause of ordering my removal as the youth leader of our community.
“Some of us can’t enter our village again and that is why you are seeing us here in Abakaliki because they said that they will kill us if we enter the village. We want the governors of Ebonyi and Benue states to come to our aid before this thing causes inter-state war,” Ishiali added.
Senator Nwebonyi, in his reaction, said Ishiali and other members of his Plan B group committed a lot of crimes in the community and that the Police are after them.
“They committed a lot of crimes; maiming some members of the community and stealing their properties and police is after them.
“They begged me to suppress the matter but I told them that what they did is evil, that even my cousin brother who is said to be among them should be charged to court.
“So they got and started paper war which I know is being sponsored by some of my political friends.
“So they are trying to divert attention here while Police is looking for them there. That place is Ado Local Government Area, Benue State.
“The chairman is looking for them and that’s why they are running helter -scalter,” he said.