A communal clash between two communities in Kogi State resulted in one death and over 70 houses being razed.
The communities involved in the communal clash are Oturpo-Ojile and Ochi-Ibadan, under Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The crisis was said to have started when some villagers in Ochi-Ibadan allegedly killed a man from Oturpo-Ojile, who, it was learnt, was coming back from Lagos to his own village (Oturpo-Ojile).
Angered by the death of their son, some youths from Oturpo-Ojile, in a retaliatory attack, went straight to
Ochi-Ibadan and allegedly set fire to over 70 houses.
The incident was confirmed by the member representing Ankpa I State Constituency, Hon. Akus Lawal, 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 happen again. We were told that the death of one man from Oturpo-Ojile, while returning from a trip, led to a reprisal attack by his people on Ochi-Ibadan village who they blamed for 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 visited this community for an on-the-spot assessment and the Kogi State Government under Alhaji Yahaya Bello for the swift response. We are praying that such communal clash will not occur in our land again.”
He, however, appealed to the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency to urgently provide relief materials for all the affected victims in the communal clash.