Nine people were killed when opposing local militias engaged in a free-for-all in Atumbe, Mbatyula council ward, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, Benue State.
Several homes were reportedly burned down during the three-day onslaught.
According to local accounts, the incident occurred between Monday and Wednesday, when competing factions assaulted themselves.
The source could not determine the exact origin of the attack but attributed it to power play amongst the parties.
According to one local, the problem began on Monday in Mbatyula council ward and has expanded to Mbayongo council ward in the same local government.
“On Tuesday, the armed men stormed Atumbe, a settlement in Mbatyula council ward, setting houses ablaze and making away with some properties.
“Same day, the group moved to Kur Hile, another settlement in Mbatyula, where they also burned some houses. The same thing happened at Anyom settlement, still in Mbatyula council ward, on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, where seven people were killed. and several houses burned to ashes.”
Another neighbor claimed that the dead terrorist leader, Terwase Akwaza, called Gana, was born in Mbayongo Council Ward in Benue State.
Though the police in Benue state, through their spokesperson, Catherine Anene, indicated they had yet to receive information about the attacks, the temporary chairman of the local government, Zamzam Francis, acknowledged the occurrence and stated that nine people were slain.
Francis said, “Really, the incident happened. It’s between the rival militias. It’s among themselves. They are burning the houses of innocent people, and many people are suffering.
“That is what is happening. Nine people were killed between Monday and now (Thursday).
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
