Women, children rendered homeless as youths burn down houses

Hundreds of women and children have been rendered homeless, after youths at Ayati area of Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, burnt down many houses and vehicles, after news filtered out that a girl, Nancy Tindiga, was killed by her boyfriend, Denen Tyoyima, alias Aguero.

Tyoyima allegedly slaughtered his girlfriend last Friday at Agena settlement along Sankera-Sai road in Boikyo council ward. It’s unclear yet why Tyoyima murdered his lover.

Tyoyima was said to have fled the area after allegedly murdering his girlfriend. He was also alleged to have been hunted down by the youths and killed.

The angry youths, who came out in revenge mission, set ablaze houses, cars, motorcycles, farm produce and other property worth millions of naira.

One of the victims, whose house was burnt, Moses Ujo, said that he and his wife were in the church, when they received a distress call that their house had been burnt down.

An eyewitness, Mr. Ahangha Ayati said:  “Many victims are now stranded. They need support of the government and other good spirited individuals. Dozens of anti-riot policemen were deployed to the area to maintain peace and order.”

The Benue State Police Public Relations Office (PPRO), Moses Yamu, confirmed the death of the couple and destruction of property.

Yamu said police were in control of the situation, stressing that normalcy had returned to the troubled area.