Three persons have been reportedly killed during a land dispute between two communities of Owu, Otukpo-Icho and Taraku in Otukpo and Gwer East Local Government Area respectively.
The clash which took place on Tuesday, according to reliable sources, was triggered by an attempt by a senior judicial officer from Gwer local government area to take over a portion of land belonging to the Owu community.
Our correspondent gathered that apart from the three persons killed, the tractor which was used in clearing the disputed piece of land was also burnt to ashes.
The State Police Command has however, confirmed the killing of one person in the communal crisis.
According to the command Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP, Catherine Anene, the incident was a case of mischief by fire which led to the crisis and subsequently claimed one life.
READ ALSO: Nine Killed In Benue Community Clash
She explained that some people went to burn down a rice farm belonging to somebody from one of the communities and in the process, a man who was found around the road leading to the farm was killed.
“There is a case of mischief by fire recorded in the Otukpo area where one rice farm was burnt down and the perpetrators where suspected to have kill a man that they met on the way”, Anene stated.
The Caretaker Committee Chairman for Otukpo Local Government Council, Mr. George Alli has appealed to the people of Owu community in Otukpo Local Government Area to shun any act of violence and embrace peace for the overall development of the state.
Alli made the appeal when he visited the affected area on Tuesday to ascertain the level of damage.
George Alli said he had already mobilized security agents to the area to avert further escalation of the dispute and called on the two warring communities to give peace a chance by engaging in dialogue to amicably resolve their differences rather than engaging in violence that would destroy lives and properties.
