The quiet community of Ngama Gberuk in the Bunkpurugu district of the North East Region has been plunged into chaos following reports of violent clashes that have left several people injured and properties destroyed.
According to sources, the conflict stems from tensions between two local clans, the Nandouk Teeb and Maan Teeb, over chieftaincy titles.
The dispute began when members of the Nandouk Teeb and Maan Teeb clans travelled to Binde, the seat of the Pibrana, the Paramount Chief of the area, for enskinment ceremonies.
The enskinment process, a traditional rite in which individuals are formally installed as chiefs, is an event for communities in the region, often accompanied by celebrations and heightened emotions.
Upon successfully completing the ceremonies, the chiefs were enskinned and began their journey back to Ngama Gberuk.
However, reports indicate that they were ambushed by unidentified gunmen before reaching their destination.
Eyewitnesses recount that the attackers, whose identities remain unknown, opened fire on the returning clans, causing widespread panic and injuries.
In the ensuing chaos, numerous people sustained injuries, some from gunshot wounds, while others were hurt in their desperate attempts to flee the violence.
Adding to the devastation, several houses and properties in the community were set ablaze.
Homes, livestock, and personal belongings were engulfed in flames. The destruction has left many families displaced, with some seeking refuge in nearby communities.
The violence has sparked fears of escalating reprisals between the factions.
Reports indicate that retaliatory gunfire has already erupted in parts of the area, further heightening tensions.
The situation remains volatile, with many residents afraid to leave their homes.
