Benue: 60 Dead In War Over Fish Pond

Around 60 people have perished over ownership of a fishing pond in Agatu local government area of Benue state.


The disputed pond has provoked a bloody communal crisis between Ologba and Egba communities in the area.

According to Sunday Vanguard, the crisis began as a lingering dispute between the fishing communities over a fishing pond.

The latest crisis between the sister communities comes a month after the conflict in Egba community which claimed close to 100 lives when suspected Fulani herdsmen invaded the community.

According to a source,

“the truth is that there is no love lost between the two communities whose preoccupation is mainly fishing.

“Unfortunately, the bitter rivalry between the communities and bottled-up anger for one another has lingered for several years and sometimes resulting in intermittent skirmishes; this latest conflict could have claimed over 60 lives because more bodies are still being recovered from the two communities.

“As I speak to you today, (Saturday) the Egba people attacked Ologba during a funeral procession early this morning, after the Friday attack, just when the people were trying to bury their dead. So many people were killed in that attack and more bodies are still being recovered from the scene so we expect the casualty figure to rise.”