Violence erupted in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State on Tuesday morning as angry youths set fire to the Local Government Secretariat in Naka and the palace of the Gwer West Traditional Council Chairman, HRH Daniel Abomtse.
The unrest began after the alleged killing of three members of the Civil Protection Guards by suspected armed herdsmen on Monday. Witnesses say the situation turned chaotic when the bodies of the deceased were brought to Naka for burial around 7:00 am.
The sight of the corpses reportedly fueled public outrage, leading to a protest against what the youths saw as government inaction regarding ongoing attacks in the area.
As the demonstration gained momentum, some individuals believed to be hoodlums allegedly took advantage of the situation, escalating the protest into a violent riot. In addition to the secretariat and the traditional ruler’s palace, other properties were also torched, including a hotel owned by Senator Titus Zam, who represents Benue North West in the Senate.
Speaking on the incident, the Chairman of Gwer West LGA, Victor Omirin, noted that the protest started peacefully but later turned violent.
Similarly, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Internal Security, Joseph Har, acknowledged the destruction caused during the unrest. However, he could not confirm whether the deceased were indeed members of the Civil Protection Guards.
HRH Daniel Abomtse, who was not in town at the time, confirmed that his palace had been burnt down. He also reported that valuables, including vehicles and motorcycles, were destroyed in the attack.
The Benue State Police Command, through its spokesperson, CSP Catherine Anene, noted that the Commissioner of Police had deployed tactical teams to restore calm in the area.
