A 40-year-old Haruna Mohammed from Tswako Makun village and Mohammed Kolo (20) from Gbangba Dzuko village, both in Gbako LGA of Niger State have been reportedly killed following a violent clash between the two villages.
The clash, which
reportedly erupted Monday night led to the burning of houses, food stuffs and motorcycles in Tswako Makun village.
According to witness, the fire was ignited during a wedding reception at Tswako Makun when a boy alleged to be from Gbangba Dzuko attempted to kiss one of the newly wedded brides while the grooms and their wives were dancing.
Things took a tragic twist when the kisser-boy, who was allegedly beaten to pulp by irate friends of the groom, and rushed to Lemu General Hospital from where he was referred to the Federal Medical Centre, Bida, died.
Angered by the death, youths from Gbangba Dzuko allegedly mobilised and headed to Tswako Makun for a reprisal attack, killing one person and setting houses, farm produce and motorcycles they could find ablaze.
About 12 motorcycles, bags of groundnut, and other food items, millions of naira in cash stored at homes, houses and other valuables were reportedly burnt, while some persons attacked during the melee, including one of the grooms sustained injuries.
The Press Secretary to Gbako LGA chairman, Yahaya Alhaji Ibrahim, who confirmed the development in a statement, said the chairman of Gbako LGA, Hassan Muhammad, had visited the two communities on a spot assessment to condole and sympathise with the victims.
Ibrahim added that the chairmanโs visit was a step towards resolving the crisis and to restore peace to the affected communities.
He said the chairman had pleaded with the residents of Tswako Makun, who fled their homes to the neighbouring communities, to return, saying that security personnel had been directed to monitor the situation.
(With Daily Trust Report)
