4 feared killed in Kogi communal clash

Four people have been reportedly killed in a clash between Ayeke and Enweli communities in Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Daily Trust gathered that the conflict between the two communities had been fueled by land speculation for months, but it reached a breaking point on Friday and Saturday with a violent altercation.

Locals claimed that despite repeated attempts to settle, the warring communities had been laying claims to a certain parcel of land.

“On Friday, the two neighbouring communities re-enacted their claim of the land at a meeting where they threw decorum to the wind and drew daggers against each other, resulting in loss of lives and destruction of property,” said David Uchola, a community leader in the area.

He added that both sides started shooting at one another, right from Friday until the arrival of the security agents in the area on Saturday, which restored normalcy.

“At least, four people were confirmed dead by Saturday evening, with several others sustaining gunshot injuries, accompanied by the destruction of some property in the villages,” Uchola said.

He added that before the army and police arrived at the scene, a lot of property had been damaged in both communities.

The police spokesman in Kogi, William Aya, when contacted, promised to get back to our reporter after getting details of the incident.

However, he did not as of the time of filing this report last night.