The government of Benue on Monday, April 22 imposed a 24 hour-curfew on Katsina-Ala town in the state following escalated violence that resulted in the killing of 11 people earlier.
The curfew imposition came as residents of the area fled their homes as violence spread with the burning of houses.
Benson Abounu, acting governor of the state, made the announcement saying it was with immediate effect.
He said the curfew is part of efforts to restore peace and ensure the security of lives and property in that part of the state. Daily Trust quoted him as saying the curfew would be reviewed as the situation demands.
He urged the people of Katsina-Ala to cooperate with security operatives by obeying the order as anyone found causing trouble would be dealt with.
He however reassures the people that more security personnel have been deployed to Katsina-Ala to end the crisis.
The report added that the Force Commander of the Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), Major General Adeyemi Yekini, had earlier said the crisis was between the Shitile and Ikyurav people of the area.
He said his troops were already in the area to maintain peace, law and order. Apart from the 11 people killed on Sunday, April 21, while the world celebrated Easter, five other persons were said to have been kidnapped by local militias in Ngibo and Tse-Aye villages in Ikyurav-Tiev 1, a council ward in Katsina-Ala local government area.
According to reports, the gunmen also took away 28 cattle belonging to one Barrister Agwaza Atedze after killing the 11 persons in the two villages of Ngibo and Tse-Aye.
