There was pandemonium yesterday at Baa-Ihyarev community of Guma local government area of Benue State when a seven-year-old-girl was burnt to death when angry youths razed over 100 houses in the area.
Baa-Ihyarev village is located near Abinsi community, along Makurdi-Gboko expressway. The incident occurred at about 5am and lasted for several hours as the rival youths barricaded the highway.
During the incident, scores of farmers, including women, children and elderly men were displaced from their homes while properties and farm produce were also destroyed. Many of the affected residents fled to neighboring communities in Makurdi town to take refuge.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the crisis was propelled by a raging political disagreement which, eye witnesses alleged it was PDP supporters who burnt houses belonging to members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), over political affiliation.
The residents said the irate youths who damaged houses and were attacking persons are supporters of the Governorship candidate of the ruling PDP in the state, Terhemen Tarzoor.
But Tarzoor, when contacted on phone yesterday, denied the allegation and told newsmen that he was far away in Germany and that he and his supporters have nothing to do with the incident.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Austin Ezeani, confirmed the death of the girl, saying many houses were damaged and people seriously injured due to the crisis. He said men of the police have been deployed to the affected area to ensure peace.