BY PETER DURU, Makurdi
No fewer than five persons are feared dead with property worth several millions of naira destroyed in a renewed fighting between Tiv speaking communities in neighbouring Taraba State and Fulani herdsmen in the area creating a huge humanitarian crisis along the Benue-Taraba boundary.

The ensuing crisis has forced thousands of members of the Tiv communities in the state into seeking refuge in Katsina-Ala local government of Benue state. Vanguard gathered from sources in the area that the rampaging herdsmen invaded the Tiv settlement, shooting indiscriminately, burning down houses, huts and farm produce of their victims.

Our source who claimed that the number of the dead could be higher, said the victims were fleeing Takum in droves for fear of being hacked down.

Reacting to the unfortunate incident, member of the Benue House of Assembly representing Katsina-Ala West, Hon.  Aondowase Jator decried the fighting and the high influx of Tiv indigenes into Benue from Taraba State.

Jator said in a text message yesterday that thousands of Tiv people who fled Taraba State were now taking refuge in Katsina-Ala, Gbishi, Tor- Donga and other surrounding villages in Benue State under harsh condition.

He condemned the crisis describing it as ‘unfortunate’ and called on the two State governments to check the fighting and also take urgent steps to resettle the victims of the crisis.

The legislator also sued for immediate resolution of the crisis to enable the Tiv people who have lived in the area for a long time to return to their homes.

Vanguard gathered that fighting broke out on Boxing Day in Demavea village, Chanchanji ward, Takum local government area in Taraba State; an area that is predominantly occupied by the Tiv.

It was gathered that fighting broke out in the community when some Fulani herdsmen in the community raised a false alarm that one of them had been killed in the community by a Tiv man and this sparked off a reprisal attack that led to the wanton destruction of property and the sacking of the Tiv people from the community.

The DPO in charge of Katsina-Ala Dominic Iornumber who could not confirm the number of deaths in the fighting as it did not fall under his jurisdiction however acknowledged the ensuing crisis and assured that there was no cause for alarm at the Katsina-Ala end as his men were on alert to monitor the situation at the border areas between the two States.

It would be recalled that ten years ago, a similar crisis broke out within the same axis which led to the infamous military invasion of Zaki-Biam and the carnage that trailed that incursion.