In Chito and Tyo Akosu communities of the Ukum Local Government Area in Benue State, a tragic incident has occurred. A total of 22 lives were lost due to a violent clash between rival gangs and an attack on a local drinking establishment.
Sources in the area have provided insights into the situation. The conflict between the infamous criminal groups, ‘Chain Gang’ and ‘Full Fire,’ resulted in the loss of approximately 15 lives in Chito Community over the weekend. Furthermore, numerous individuals suffered gunshot wounds during this confrontation.
The violence continued to Tyo Akosu settlement, where armed assailants targeted a drinking spot, opening fire on unsuspecting patrons. While it remains uncertain if this attack in Tyo Akosu was directly linked to the earlier Chito altercation, there is growing concern among the locals that the gang rivalry is spreading rapidly across the council’s communities.
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.
