One person was killed, while over 70 houses were set ablaze, in a communal clash between two communities in Kogi State.
The communities involved in the communal clash are Oturpo-Ojile and Ochi-Ibadan, under Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State.
Trouble was said to have started when some villagers in Ochi-Ibadan allegedly killed a man from Oturpo-Ojile, who, it was gathered, was returning from Lagos to his own village (Oturpo-Ojile).
Aggrieved at the death of their son, some youths from Oturpo-Ojile, in a reprisal attack, went straight to
Ochi-Ibadan and allegedly burnt down over 70 houses.
The member representing Ankpa I State Constituency, Hon. Akus Lawal, confirmed the incident on the floor of the Kogi State House of Assembly during plenary on Thursday.
He 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 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.
