Irate youths suspected to be members of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) on Monday unleashed mayhem in the Logo Local government area of Benue Sate leaving in their trail gory scences; no fewer than 10 persons died and about 50 houses torched in the reprisal attack.
It was learnt that the youths went on rampage after a money lender apparently loyal to the AC, was found murdered in his home. In retaliation, they subsequently mobilized and started attacking the homes of prominent Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), members in the area.
Some of the houses touched included those of the traditional ruler, Zaki Terngu, two houses belonging to Kertyo, that of Iwar among others while four persons including a pregnant woman were also killed in the traditional ruler’s compound.
State Governor, Gabriel Suswam has described the mayhem as the handiwork of the major opposition party (ACN) in the state.
The governor noted that the situation was totally unacceptable. He stated that the ACN had gone too far this time and called on the police and other security agencies to wade into the matter.
“Politics is not rascality, opposition is not criminality. ACN has gone too far and we cannot continue to condone this kind of arson. Anyone involved, no matter how highly placed would be made to face the wrath of the law.”
Suswam who decried the magnitude of the wanton destruction of life and property in Ugbah, his home local government area lamented that the opposition are bent on making state ungovernable for him.
mobile policemen have been deployed to the area to bring the situation under control.
Reacting, State Chairman of the ACN, Abba Yaro alleged that two chieftains of his party were killed in Logo by suspected PDP members.
Yaro also alleged that the PDP had at a meeting in the home of one Commissioner, vowed to eliminate prominent chieftains of the ACN. He maintained that the party would not be deterred until it reclaims its stolen mandate.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Alaribe Ejike, (ASP) confirmed the report and noted that the police had set up investigation to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the mayhem.