A fresh round of communal clashes in Benue state has left at least twenty people dead, and houses have been set ablaze. The violence erupted between residents of Yache-Ijiegu community in the Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State and Tiv settlers from Benue State. The conflict is said to stem from ongoing boundary disputes.

According to reports, the hostilities reignited when a resident of Yache, Ayeku Godwin Ochuole, was allegedly attacked and killed by Tiv assailants while on his farm. This incident led to the abduction of at least nine other individuals, who suffered various degrees of gunshot wounds. The clashes, which have been ongoing for about two months, initially began over the refusal of Tiv settlers to continue paying royalties for their stay on Yache lands.

The violence escalated with allegations from both sides. Tiv settlers claimed that Yache natives were extorting them by force, launching surprise attacks from the bushes. They emphasized that they have resided in the area for over a century, intermarrying and owning properties, and have no other place to call their own.

On the other hand, Yache residents accused Tiv settlers of not complying with royalty payments and engaging in attacks. A youth leader in Yache blamed the state governments for their inactivity and accused Tiv settlers of being accompanied by armed soldiers, further complicating the situation.

Security forces, including soldiers, have been deployed to maintain peace, but the clashes persist. A commander of the security team expressed frustration, stating that Yache residents continue to engage in attacks, making peace efforts challenging. The security team plans to hold a joint peace meeting with stakeholders in the hope of reaching an amicable settlement.