NIGERIAN ARMY DEBUNK REPORTS OF MASSIVE KILLINGS AND DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTIES IN KONSHISHA LGA OF BENUE
The Nigerian Army has debunked widespread reports of massive killing and destruction of properties in Konshisha LGA of Benue State.
This comes after reports indicated that residents of Shangev-Tiev of Konshisha LGA, on Friday claimed that at least 70 persons were killed during an invasion by soldiers.
The reports stated that about 200 houses, including the palace of Tyoor Unaha Kôkô in Agidi and several cars in the village were also set ablaze by the soldiers.
However, in a press statement by Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, acting Director Defence Information, debunked the reports and described the allegations as 'spurious'.
He said that there had been repeated communal clashes in Oju and Konshisa LGA of Benue over boundary demarcation and the State Government had met with stakeholders from both Local Governments with a view of resolving the crisis.
There had been considerable progress recorded from the meetings but a clash erupted again in the area on the eve of the final meeting during the Easter festivities.
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Nwachukwu said troops deployed to Oju LGA were on their way to replenish their colleagues when they were ambushed by bandits at Bonta in Konshisha.
He revealed the bandits took the troops into a forest in Konshisha and gruesomely murdered all of them. The attackers also set all eleven soldiers ablaze and carted their ammunition away.
Military reinforcements were deployed to Bonta the following day but we're also resisted by about 500 armed youths from Bonta who had fully colonized the community.
The military repelled the attack after more than 4 hours of intense fighting during which military helicopter provided close air support to ground troops. Ten armed bandits were killed during the encounter with the rifle of one of the deceased soldiers recovered from the bandits.
The Defence director said that apart from the initial 10 bandits, there are no other civilian casualties recorded in any part of Konshisha till date.
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