Houses, farmlands destroyed in Niger communal clash

Enyioha Opara Several houses were destroyed and other property worth millions of naira were destroyed in a communal clash that broke out between two communities in Katcha and Mokwa local government areas of Niger State on Friday evening. No fewer than five people were injured in the fracas in which dangerous weapon were used by […]
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Enyioha Opara

Several houses were destroyed and other property worth millions of naira were destroyed in a communal clash that broke out between two communities in Katcha and Mokwa local government areas of Niger State on Friday evening.

No fewer than five people were injured in the fracas in which dangerous weapon were used by the combatants in the crisis.

SUNDAY PUNCH learnt that trouble started when a woman from Mokwa community died and the relations tried to bury her remains in Katcha area but they were stopped from doing so.

The incident was said to have angered the people in Mokwa resulting in secret attacks on people from both communities.

The situation reportedly degenerated on Friday evening following the attack on people from Katcha as they were going to the farm.

The Niger State Police Command, however, swooped on the area to save the situation before further damage was done.

Three people described as “the brains behind the disturbance” were arrested by the police, while the hunt for other masterminds of the crisis had begun.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Bala Elkana, confirmed the story, saying the incident was a fallout of a lingering crisis in the area and that all efforts to reconcile the warring communities had failed.

Elikana said the crisis followed a claim to the forest between the communities, where a lot of revenue was said to have been generated.

He said, “This is the major reason why this problem has not abated. The traditional rulers from both Emirates have tried but they are yet to get the way out.”

The PPRO added that mobile policemen had been drafted to the troubled areas to beef up security and avert more destruction.

The police spokesman said sanity had returned to the area, “but we will continue to maintain vigilance there.”

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The post Houses, farmlands destroyed in Niger communal clash appeared first on Punch Newspapers.

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