Benue State Police Command has debunked the rumour being circulated on the social media about crisis between Tiv and Jukum communities in Wurukum, saying that this incident has nothing to do with tribe or ethnicity.
The Command said that it was criminals who intended to create tension and steal from members of the public.
According to a statement by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Anene Sewuese Catherine who spoke on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Wale Abass, what happened was that on February 16, 2022, at about 3pm, “information was received that some fishermen had gone fishing in a pond behind Rice Mill, Wurukum, Makurdi, without inviting other community members as had been the practice.
“This action brought disagreement among them and hoodlums took advantage of the incident to break into houses and steal from them.”
She said that a team of police officers were deployed to the scene immediately, with the suspects fleeing on sighting the police team.
She stated further that critical stakeholders who confirmed the story cooperated with the police in restoring peace in the area.
“It is imperative to state that this incident has nothing to do with tribe or ethnicity but criminals who intended to create tension and steal from members of the public.
“Normalcy has since been restored to the area with more patrol teams to forestall further breakdown of law and other.
“Members of the public are advised to desist from rumour mongering to avoid unnecessary tension and reactions,” Anene stated further.
