According to reports, at least a few persons have perished in the Tyo Akosu and Chito villages of Ukum Local Government Area, LGA, Benue State, following a violent dispute between two rival gangs that culminated in a deadly brawl at a drinking joint in Tyo Akosu town.
Local reports reported that the armed groups “Chain Gang” and “Full Fire,” well-known for their illegal operations, engaged in a gang battle in the Chito village over the weekend that left about fifteen people dead and numerous others wounded.
According to one of the reports, unidentified armed men attacked a tavern in the area and opened fire on unknowing patrons, committing the killings at Tyo Akosu community.
He acknowledged that it was difficult for him to establish whether the attack at Tyo Akosu was a continuation of the conflict in Chito, but he did mention that residents were suspecting that the struggle for supremacy was quickly expanding throughout the LGA’s settlements.
“It all started Friday afternoon during a fight for supremacy between kingpins of crime in Ukum LGA,” stated one of the informants. The LGA is home to their operational base, which goes by the names Chain and Full Fire gangs.
“Both of them are looking for each other’s necks. Full FIre employed the services of another banditry group to help kill the Chain gang who 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 unknown 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 injuring several others.
He said,
“Though we cannot say for sure that it was an extension 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, SP, Catherine Anene said she was yet to receive information on the incidents.