Makurdi—No fewer than 22 persons have been killed in Chito and Tyo Akosu communities of Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, following a rival gang fight and attack on a drinking spot.

It was gathered from sources in the area that the gang supremacy fight, which erupted, weekend, in Chito Community between the notorious criminal armed groups, known as ‘Chain Gang’ and ‘Full Fire’, left about 15 persons dead, while several others sustained gunshot wounds.

One of the sources said that the killings at Tyo Akosu settlement was perpetrated by armed men, who stormed a drinking spot in the village and opened fire on unsuspecting customers at the bar.

He said he could not readily confirm if the attack at Tyo Akosu was an extension of the Chito fight, but noted that the suspicion among the locals was that the supremacy fight was fast spreading in the communities of the council.

One of the sources explained that “It all started on Friday afternoon, during a fight for supremacy between kingpins of crime in Ukum council. They are known as Chain and Full Fire gangs, with their operational base located in the council.

“Both groups are looking for each others necks. Full Fire employed the services of another banditry group to help kill the Chain gang, which got wind of the plan and laid ambush for them.

“They opened fire and killed all of them. Some persons claimed that 10 pereons were killed in the bloody fight while others said they counted 15 bodies.

“”But it was an internal fight for supremacy among gangs and not a communal crisis. In fact, the locals ran away because they feared for their lives. They feared that in the course of the reprisal, they might be affected despite being innocent.”

It was gathered that after the Chito bloody fight on Friday evening, a gang of armed men Saturday evening stormed the drinking spot at Tor Akosu village and opened fire on the customers at the bar, killing seven persons and injurying several others.

He said: “Though we cannot say for sure that it was an extention of the supremacy fight but we cannot rule it out because we cannot tell who belongs to whatever groups anymore.

“Ukum has become something else, we are all living in fear as we speak because we cannot tell who is who among our local boys,” he said.

Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene said she was yet to receive information on the incidents.

benuejosh:
mumuu! Go back and read what i wrote. And stop jumping threads to comment without reading.

benuejosh:
Ukum Local government has never experienced peace since the regime of former governor Gabriel Suswam. He empowered those guys with arms and encouraged millitia in that area. As a typical unlearned and a majority of uneducated people who were exposed to gaining power through violence, they embraced gun violence as a way of Life.

This act gave rise to people like the late Gana and a host of other people. Rivalry then took a course in that area and to calm down the violence has been a major problem. Efforts were made by past government to cleanse those people of guns but it is too late. If a 10 year-old child warns you and tells you to very careful, please do because the next may be your death. The same Ukum people recently kidnapped a serving commissioner and killed a former chairman that they kidnapped alongside the Commissioner.

The worst part of it is that, as soon as the government comes after them, they 'run into the bush'.

Ukum is where we have the largest Yam market in Africa. They produce the largest quantity of yams in the whole of Nigeria. They are so rich because of the yam business but majority of them are uneducated (they didn't go to school because they farm yams, sell and make money) and got exposed to modernity during the government of former governor Gabriel Suswam. Because of the so much money they have, buying guns is not a problem to them.

Amnesty has never worked because someone who has 5 guns may surrender 3 and keep 2. Or surrender 4 and keep 1. And because of what they did to Gana who was killed after surrendering himself, they no longer trust the government. The best that has worked so far is the government killing gang leaders. And it will surprise you to know that a member of a gang will derive joy in being the leader of gang to be killed and then they boast of 'even the government is looking for me'.

Only God can help with the situations in Ukum, Katsina-ala and Logo governments. But the worst is Ukum Local Government.

Ozommadu:
Benuejosh will be missing on a thread like this, in his supposed state.


But mention Anambra or SE and he appears from nowhere.

Voluntary slaves