No fewer that two persons have been reportedly killed and about 70 Houses set ablaze in a communal clash in Kogi State.
The clash was said to involved two communities, Oturpo-Ojile and Ochi-Ibadan in Ankpa local government area of the state.
As gathered, trouble began when some villagers in Ochi-Ibadan allegedly killed a man from Oturpo-Ojile, who was returning from Lagos State to his village (Oturpo-Ojile).
LEADERSHIP newspaper report that the people of Oturpo-Ojile, mainly youths, aggrieved over the death of their son, had to take a reprisal attack, went straight to Ochi-Ibadan and allegedly burnt down over 70 houses.
The member representing Ankpa state constituency in the Kogi State House of Assembly, Akus Lawal, confirmed the incident on the floor of the House during plenary on Thursday.
The lawmaker said, “The sad incident occurred on 14th January, 2024. The communal clash between two communities is very worrisome and should not repeat itself again. We were informed of that the death of one man from Oturpo-Ojile while returning from a journey led to a reprisal attack by his people on Ochi-Ibadan village, who they accused to have caused the death of their son. Over 70 houses and many properties in Ochi-Ibadan were burnt down.
“We must commend the Commissioner of Police who went to this community for an on-the-spot assessment and the Kogi State Government under Alhaji Yahaya Bello for the quick response. We are praying that such communal clash will not happen in our land again.”
He, however, appealed to the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency to immediately provide relief materials for all the affected victims in the communal clash.
When contacted, the spokesman of the State Police Command, SP William Aya, confirmed the incident, adding that one Samuel Peter and one other person were killed by a mob action following a communal clash between Oturpo-Ojile and Ochi-Ibadan villages as a result of the death of Peter.
According to him, only thirty houses were razed while several properties were destroyed, adding that the State’s Commissioner of Police, Bethrand Onuoha, has visited the two communities while normalcy has been restored in both communities.