Abuja, Mar 7 (UNI) Security operatives were deployed Tuesday to a community in Nigeria's state of Benue after a deadly clash between rival militia groups claimed over 40 lives, local media reported Wednesday.

The clash, which broke out Tuesday, snowballed till Wednesday in the Gbagir community of the Ukum local government area of Benue, the official News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported Wednesday afternoon, citing "a highly reliable military source."

Residents were reportedly caught in the bloody clash, as the conflict got hotter between the unnamed militia groups in the area. The majority of the victims were members of rival militia groups, the media reported.

Local sources said the clash began as a reprisal attack by one of the militia groups who was avenging the torturing of some residents from a neighboring community, allegedly by another group.
The fighting groups brandished dangerous weapons, causing pandemonium in the Gbagir community, according to NAN.

The police in Benue confirmed the incident Wednesday afternoon, saying, however, that only eight corpses have so far been recovered from the scene by security operatives.

Catherine Anene, the spokesperson for the state police, told reporters in the capital of Makurdi, that more security operatives had been deployed Wednesday to restore peace and normalcy to the area.
An investigation has been launched into the incident, the police spokesperson added.

UNI/XINHUA ARN