Four-year-old burnt alive in Benue

IT was a tragic end for the innocent Ushahemba Jime, a four-year-old boy who was unfortunately burnt to death in one of the over 30 houses razed by irate youths from rival warring sides in the lingering crisis between settlers and natives in Abinsi, Guma local council of Benue State.

   Father of the victim, Mr. Akpera Jime, said that on Tuesday, some youths numbering about 10 set their houses ablaze, adding that while some of them were lucky to have escaped, the four-year-old boy, whose mother left in the house at dawn in search of drinking water, was burnt beyond recognition inside one of the houses.

   Jime further intimated that his 31-year-old son, Terna, who sustained machete wounds, was receiving treatment at a private hospital in Makurdi.

   When contacted, the clan head of Abinsi, Christopher Abaki, confirmed the incidence but added that the crisis has been brought under control by the mobile policemen deployed to the area.