Two persons have been killed, while over 70 houses were set ablaze in a communal clash between two communities in Kogi State.
The towns involved in the communal fight are Oturpo-Ojile and Ochi-Ibadan, which are part of the state’s Ankpa Local Government Area.
Trouble began when some villagers in Ochi-Ibadan allegedly killed an Oturpo-Ojile man on his way back from Lagos to his hometown.
In retaliation for their son’s death, some Oturpo-Ojile youths allegedly set fire to houses and buildings worth millions of naira in Ochi-Ibadan.
Akus Lawal, a member of the Kogi State House of Assembly representing Ankpa I state Constituency, confirmed the occurrence during Thursday’s plenary session.
He said the sad incident occurred on January 14, 2024, saying that the communal clash between the two communities was very worrisome and should not repeat itself.
He appealed to the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency to immediately provide relief materials for all the affected victims in the communal clash.
Confirming the incident via telephone, the spokesman for the State Police Command, SP William Aya, said a detachment of policemen had been deployed to the place.
He said that one Samuel Peter and one other person were killed by a mob.
He said the state Commissioner of Police, Bethrand Onuoha, has visited the two communities while normalcy has been restored.