The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Communal clash

  • One killed in Bayelsa communal clash

    At least one person was reportedly killed and homes razed yesterday in a clash between two groups at Korokorosie in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

    It was gathered the violence, which started on Tuesday night, caused panic among  residents and forced them to shut down their schools.

    In confusion, many pupils and residents were said to have taken refuge in the mangrove.

    A resident, who spoke in confidence, said two primary school pupils were hit by bullets.

    He said: “Many buildings and other properties were burnt.”

    It was learnt many residents were fleeing the area to nearby communities.

    Trouble started as two youth groups disagreed on issues relating to oil and gas.

    The groups reportedly fought with guns, machetes and other weapons.

    A concerned Southern Ijaw indigene, who spoke in confidence, urged security agencies and government to dispatch security operatives to the community to save lives.

    House of Assembly Speaker Kombowei Benson hails from the community.

    The source said: “A conflict between two groups at Korokorosei Community in Olodiama clan of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State has led to the death of one person and injury to others. Guns were used.

    “It is still related to crude oil in our land. Although there is a police station in the community, I heard there is yet to be calm as community folks are running for dear lives. The primary school was forced to close and children rushing home have been hit by stray bullets. One of them is in critical condition.”

    It was gathered operatives of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe, had been sent to restore order in the area.

    Contacted for comments on the clash, the Coordinator of Joint Media Campaign Centre (JMCC) Lt.-Col. Olaolu Dauda said he was busy.

    It was learnt the situation was tense.

    Many residents were said to have fled Korokorosie to neighbouring communities of Ikebiri, Ondewari and Okpotuari. Efforts to contact the local government chairman,  Joseph Macaiver, were unsuccessful last night.

    He neither answered his telephone calls nor replied to text messages sent to his mobile phone.

  • Community head, others arrested over Edo communal clash

    Community head, others arrested over Edo communal clash

    Odionwere (village head) of Azagba community, Pa Samuel Arasomwan aged 84 and Pa David Igbinosun aged 78 including nine others have been arrested by men of the Edo State Police Command over communal clash that led to the destruction of properties.

    They were nabbed after the police raided the community in Uhunmwonde local government area of the state.

    Several assorted guns and ammunition were recovered from the community during the raid.

    Pa Igbinosun said the one of the double barrel guns paraded belongs to a tenant in his house.

    Two Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs) sustained bullets wound during a shootout with some hoodlums in the community.

    State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Haliru Gwandu said the onslaught was aimed at mopping up arms and ammunition used to terrorise innocent residents of the community.

    Gwandu stated that the Chief Priest (Ohen) of the community, Nosakhare Ogieriakhi, and some elders of Azagba community have been invited for questioning over the clash in the community.

    A youth in the community who identified himself as Godfrey Owie accused the Chief Priest of using armed policemen and thugs to attack the community over land sale in the Azagba.

    But the Chief Priest denied the allegation and blamed the former CDA chairman of invading the community with thugs that vandalized his Palace because he asked him to give account of his ten years stewardship.

    Other suspects arrested included Omoyelele Ajiro, Osazee Akhimien, Anighara Collins, Edugie Edwin, Monday Ovie, Osarekhue Osadolor, Daniel John, Augustine Okoh and Onaghise Pius.

    The suspects denied involvement in the communal fracas.

  • Five killed in Niger communal clash

    Five people have been confirmed dead and 11 critically injured in a communal clash between two villages in Agaie local government area of Niger State over farm land dispute.

    The two warring villages Mazza and Tswachiko have been at dagger’s drawn over a piece of farm land for over four years until it got to a peak last Tuesday when four people lost their lives following an attack and counter attack by the two communities.

    The fifth victim died at the early hours of Monday at the hospital from injury sustained from the attacks.

    Several houses, two vehicles – a Sharon and Golf Volkswagen, 18 motorcycles and domestic animals were touched and burnt down to the rubbles in the violent face-off.

    Hell was let loose between the two communities last week Tuesday morning when the people of Tswachiko was accused of farming on the land in violation of the directive of the paramount ruler of the area, the Emir of Agaie, Alhaji Yusuf Nuhu.

    This violation of the Emir’s directive irked the people of Mazza village and allegedly reacted violently by attacking the Tswachiko people on the farm which led to the death of a youth.

    Disturbed by the development the Tswachiko community mobilised and launched a counter attack by invading Mazza village. The invasion killed three people and wrecked havoc on the village in retaliation of the morning attack.

    Condemning the unfortunate incident, the Emir of Agaie, who visited the farm land and the two neighbouring villages Tuesday frowned at the senseless and unwarranted killing.

    The visibly angered royal father ordered the indefinite suspension of the chiefs of the two warring villages and placed a ban on farming activities on the land until further notice.

    The royal father also ordered a redeployment of all the district heads in the Emirate council. This he said would help bring sanity to the area.

    The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Baba Elkan confirmed the incident and said that Police has commenced investigations on the matter.

    “We are on top of the situation. Peace has since returned to the area, we have arrested 20 suspects in respect of the sad incident.

    “From my last check only three people died, 11 are now at Federal Medical Centre, Bida for treatment from injuries sustained from the atacks,” Elkan disclosed.

  • Five killed in Niger communal clash

    Five people have been confirmed dead and 11 critically injured in a communal clash between two villages in Agaie local government area of Niger State over farm land dispute.

    The two warring villages Mazza and Tswachiko have been at dagger’s drawn over a piece of farm land for over four years until it got to a peak last Tuesday when four people lost their lives following an attack and counter attack by the two communities.

    The fifth victim died at the early hours of Monday at the hospital from injury sustained from the attacks.

    Several houses, two vehicles – a Sharon and Golf Volkswagen, 18 motorcycles and domestic animals were touched and burnt down to the rubbles in the violent face-off.

    Hell was let loose between the two communities last week Tuesday morning when the people of Tswachiko was accused of farming on the land in violation of the directive of the paramount ruler of the area, the Emir of Agaie, Alhaji Yusuf Nuhu.

    This violation of the Emir’s directive irked the people of Mazza village and allegedly reacted violently by attacking the Tswachiko people on the farm which led to the death of a youth.

    Disturbed by the development the Tswachiko community mobilised and launched a counter attack by invading Mazza village. The invasion killed three people and wrecked havoc on the village in retaliation of the morning attack.

    Condemning the unfortunate incident, the Emir of Agaie, who visited the farm land and the two neighbouring villages Tuesday frowned at the senseless and unwarranted killing.

    The visibly angered royal father ordered the indefinite suspension of the chiefs of the two warring villages and placed a ban on farming activities on the land until further notice.

    The royal father also ordered a redeployment of all the district heads in the Emirate council. This he said would help bring sanity to the area.

    The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Baba Elkan confirmed the incident and said that Police has commenced investigations on the matter.

    “We are on top of the situation. Peace has since returned to the area, we have arrested 20 suspects in respect of the sad incident.

    “From my last check only three people died, 11 are now at Federal Medical Centre, Bida for treatment from injuries sustained from the atacks,” Elkan disclosed.

  • Three killed in Kogi communal clash, houses razed

    No fewer than three people were  reportedly killed and property running into millions of naira destroyed when rampaging youths from Bakume and Abejukolo descended on Ogba village in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State.

    The violence was reportedly fuelled by the Fulani herdsmen  – Agatu/Igala crises in Bagana, which some youths latched onto to attack the Ogba, Nupe community over its alleged support for the Fulani herdsmen.

    Speaking with reporters at the weekend in Lokoja, Alhaji Hassan Abubakar, who claimed to have lost two of his relations, six houses and two cars in the mayhem, said the youths attacked the community without any provocation.

    According to him, the youths were merely hiding under the Fulani/Agatu crisis to attack his community because they perceived Nupes as settlers who are prospering in business and cattle rearing.

    Abubakar said: “All what the youths are doing is that they are acting the scripts of some powerful individuals who have vowed to wipe us out (the Nupes) and drive us away from Omala because they say we are strangers, forgetting that we have been living here for more than 200 years without any problem.

    “I am the PDP chairman in Omala Local Government and the chairman of NURTW in the local government; these positions are being rotated among all the ethnic groups in the town, but some people now feel we the settlers must not be given any sensitive position again, whereas we power the economy of the area.

    “The other day, the youths attacked the Fulanis and killed 47 of their cows; it was the quick intervention of the traditional ruler, the Ojogba of Ife, that saved the situation from degenerating further, but the Bakume youths now turned against me as the leader of the Nupes and set ablaze all my six houses, my two cars and destroyed all I have laboured for in life.

    “As I speak with you, we don’t know where our wives and children are, they are all scattered in the bush. It is over two weeks since the attack took place and nothing has been heard from the state or local government, while our people are starving and dying.

    He alleged that some unnamed persons  were feeding the governor with falsehood and called for a board of inquiry to determine those behind the attack.

    Abubakar called on the Federal Government to prevail on the security outfits to stop what he called the ethnic cleansing against the Nupes in Omala, saying his people now live in fear.

    Two soldiers from the military contingent stationed in the area were killed early last month in a clash between Fulani herdsmen and Agatu militias.

    The police could, however, not confirm the latest round of fracas that claimed the three lives and property estimated at about N30 million was lost.

  • Six killed, houses burnt in Ondo communal clash

    Six killed, houses burnt in Ondo communal clash

    Six persons died yesterday in a clash between loyalists of the Olu of Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, and the family of the late Titi Olalebi.

    The late Olalebi was murdered two years ago by suspected loyalists of the monarch.

    The monarch and 10 others are standing trial for the murder.

    Counsel to the Olalebi family  Koboju Atima said trouble started when some thugs suspected to be loyalists of the Olu of Igbokoda invaded the house of a man, Tale Iwatan, at Temitan community.

     Iwatan is a cousin of the late Olalebi.

    Atima alleged that the violence was masterminded by the monarch.

    He said the hoodlums arrived the Iwatan family house with guns and other weapons.

    They reportedly set two houses ablaze.

    Atima further alleged that two vehicles belonging to the Iwatans were burnt by the hoodlums.

    The crux of the matter, according to the counsel, was Iwatan’s resistance  to Oba Odidiomo’s alleged desperation to forcefully take over his family land.

    The counsel said the attack was the second in the last six months.

    But Oba Odidiomo denied sponsoring the attack.

    He said the crisis erupted as a result of the abduction of his messenger.

    His words: ”I am a man of peace how can I mastermind violence in my domain?

    “What happened was that I sent one of my boys on an errand and when we couldn’t find him. We reported the case to t he police. His body was later discovered in the town.

    “The search party went with the police to recover the body but in the process some thugs opened fire on them, killing six people on the spot.”

    The monarch added that several people were injured in the process.

    Police spokesman Wole Ogodo, did not deny or confirm the story.

    He promised to reveal the details of the  incident as soon as investigations are completed.

    A team of riot policemen from the Ondo Area Command have been deployed to maintain law and order in the area.

  • Seven killed in Kogi communal clash

    Seven people have reportedly died in a renewed clash between Fulani herdsmen and residents of Kupa community in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State.

    The Maiyaki of Kupa, Alhaji Muhhamadu Kabiru Isah, recounted yesterday the ordeal of his community in the hands of the herdsmen.

    The community leader said seven people died in the clas.

    He said four buildings were razed, adding that several tractors, vehicles and motorcycles were destroyed in Ekpan-Abugi.

    Isah alleged that over 200 Fulani herdsmen were involved in the attack.

    The community leader called for increased police in presence in the area.

    Governor Idris Wada described the mayhem as one too many.

    Reacting on his behalf, Deputy Governor Yomi Awoniyi said the government would intervene to avert a recurrence.

    He called for vigilance among the residents.

    The governor said the State Emergence Management Agency (SEMA) would be directed to provide succour to those displaced, adding that more security presence would be deployed to the troubled area.

    He hailed the Maiyaki for handling the crisis with maturity.

  • Five killed in Plateau communal clash

    Five killed in Plateau communal clash

    Five persons were reportedly killed yesterday and over 200 houses burnt in an attack on Kuka village in Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State.

    The attack, according to sources, was a result of unresolved communal conflict between the Tarok of Langtang South Local Government and the Gomai of Shendam Local Government.

    Sources from southern Plateau said over 300 attackers stormed Kuka village with sophisticated weapons shooting and burning houses.

    Shendam is in the southern part of the state and about 300 kilometres from Jos.

    A resident, Abdullahi Ragmin, who is Gommai, confirmed that the attackers burnt 200 houses and shot five persons.

    He listed the victims as: Malam Inuwa (60), Yakubu Kaura (43), Alhassan Abdullahi (50), Abdullahi Dungu (35).

    Abdurrahman, he said, sustained a fractured arm and Musa dan Union was shot in the abdomen.

    It was gathered that the attackers outnumbered the policemen at Kuka.

    The attackers allegedly burnt houses and mosque and shot at people but 30 minutes later military reinforcement came from Taraba State, which borders Kuka.

    Police spokesman Felicia Anslem confirmed the incident.

    She said five people were killed when the attackers stormed the village.

    But the Media and Information Officer, Special Task Force (STF) on Jos crises, ‘operation Safe Haven’, Capt Salisu Mustapha, confirmed two deaths.

    He said: “The attackers were estimated to be about 100, they burnt houses but they were repelled. Calm has returned.”

  • 10 die in communal clash in Edo

    Leadership tussle between members of Ukhorumi community in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State has led to the killing of 10 people and destruction of property worth millions of naira.

    Security personnel, including soldiers, have taken over the community to prevent further casualties.

    Eyewitnesses told The Nation that the crisis began when the CDA vice- chairman attempted to take over the leadership of the community from the incumbent chairman.

    The witnesses, who pleaded anonymity, said: “As we speak, the community is deserted by the people for fear of reprisal, as many cars and buildings have been burnt.

    “The reaction that followed was spontaneous, as gunshots rent the air.

    “Cars and houses belonging to members from each group were torched. Ten persons have reportedly died in the incident.” Spokesman for the 4 Brigade Nigeria Army, Cpt. Roselyn Managbe, confirmed the incident, but said no arrest has been made.

    She said soldiers arrived after damage had been done and that they were on ground to forestall further crisis.

    At Evbuodia village also in Oredo Local Government, a community leader, Osas Omoregbe, has been killed by four gunmen at his home.

    Police spokesman Moses Eguavoen confirmed the incident. He said investigation has begun.

  • Seven injured in Anambra communal clash

    Seven people were injured when youths from Ebenebe community in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State clashed with members of the community’s vigilance group.

    Ten youths have been detained at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad office, Awkuzu and the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Awka.

    Women marched on the police headquarters to protest the innocence of the youths.

    It was gathered that the fracas started when a group came late to the community for a wake and was stopped from entering by the vigilance group.

    All pleas that they should be allowed in were rebuffed by the vigilance group. They allegedly slept at the community gate.

    Sources said in the morning the visitors complained to their hosts, who mobilised some youths and attacked members of the vigilance group.

    They said this attracted the attention of the community’s President-General, Cletus Osieme, who reportedly invited the police to beat up the youths.

    This drew the ire of the youths, who allegedly went berserk harassing the vigilance group members and beating them up. They allegedly stripped some of them naked.

    The monarch of Ebenebe, Igwe Christopher Nnaegbuna, blamed the incidence on the town union leadership.

    Nnaegbuna said: “Yes, it happened. The police have visited me and I have told them all I know.

    “The vigilance group is harassing and assaulting residents and if they demand for money from you and you cannot afford it, they would beat you up and even lock you up.

    “All my efforts to ensure peace in the community was brought to naught by the activities of the vigilance group members. The new security van donated by Governor Peter Obi has been destroyed.”

    Osieme could not be reached for comments.

    Police spokesman Emeka Chukwuemeka confirmed the incident. He said the crisis has been brought under control.

    He said the President-General and the monarch have briefed the police. Chukwuemeka said no life was lost and some people have been arrested.