20 killed as Cross River, Benue communities clashed over farmland

A resurgence of hostilities over unresolved boundary disputes between the Yache-Ijiegu community in Yala LGA, Cross River State, and Tiv settlers from Benue State has left at least twenty people terribly dead.

Although the exact toll is still unknown, it is anticipated that women and children will make up a larger proportion of the victims.

It was discovered that a significant number of people had been reported to have had machete cuts and gunshot wounds of varying degrees.

There were reports from multiple sources that other homes on both sides had been set on fire.

When their son, Ayeku Godwin Ochuole, went to his farm on Thursday afternoon, Tiv attackers allegedly attacked and killed him, according to a source in Yache named Augustine Odey. This marked the start of new hostilities.

He claimed that at least nine more people, all of whom had varying degrees of bullet wounds, were kidnapped as a result of the incident.

About two months ago, the Tiv settlers allegedly refused to continue paying royalties for their stay on Yache lands, which sparked the violent boundary skirmishes.

The Tiv immigrants, who have lived there for more than a century, intermarried, and own homes, have stated that they are being forced to leave by the natives and that they have nowhere else to call home.

The Yache lads, according to Tiv leaders like Mr. Jacob Uswa, who asserted he was raised as a chief on the land following the death of his father and claimed to have been born 54 years ago, have been slaughtering their own people with surprise attacks from the bushes.

“We cannot stand by while they continue to wipe out our people. We need to protect ourselves. To start an attack, they typically lurk in the undergrowth. We also own this land. He asserted, “We are from Cross River State as well.

Read Also: Gunshots at Rivers assembly as lawmakers move governor’s impeachment

“My father spent more than a century living in this community with his own father.” I’ve been residing here for more than 50 years.

“It surprises me that Yache people don’t think we’re from here.

“Not Benue State, but Cross River State is our native land. Even yet, we had given in to their pressure to pay royalties on properties and homes.

He claims that the war began in July 2023 and hasn’t stopped despite military presence and government initiatives. It was started by the Yache boys who came to collect royalties.

The governments of both states, according to Yache youth leader Augustine Odey, should be held accountable for their inaction over the recent wave of homicides and instability in Yache.

In addition, he said that they have evidence that, in addition to the soldiers assigned to maintain order, other “armed soldiers” traveled with the Tiv immigrants to inflict havoc on them.

“The governments of Cross River State and Benue State have persisted in acting like helpless tiger mommas, permitting their people to perish in a crisis that they ought to have resolved.

The Tiv people of Benue State, supported by the military, successfully broke into the Ijiegu-Yache Community on Thursday and continued their attacks there on Sunday, shooting at the Ijiegu people who went to farm. An Ijiegu-Yache native was brutally killed as a result of this.

In response, a security team commander identified as Lt. Alex and Lt. H. J. Enoibor stated that while they had made every effort to bring peace back to Yache, the “Yache boys constantly indulge in attacks.” The Tivs have shown that they have heard us by restraint.

“I had to scowl at the fact that they killed one of my men yesterday. The Yache brothers would go so far as to relocate to the opposite side of Benue State, where troops are stationed for potential attacks.

They’ve complicated our attempts to bring about peace. It’s been months now, when we had anticipated only being here for one or two weeks. They ought to be aware of how bad war is. The Tivs are too strong for Yache.

“With the hopes that this will finally lead to an amicable settlement, we have scheduled a joint peace meeting with all stakeholders on Wednesday.”