No fewer than 11 persons have been confirmed killed with more than 50 houses burnt in a fresh communal crisis between Akyawa and Udege Kasa communities in Nasarawa Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
Spokesman of the state police command, SP Ramhan Nansel, who confirmed the incident in a statement on Saturday in Lafia, said the conflict broke out on Friday when suspected hoodlums carried out a reprisal attack over the alleged killing of two of their kinsmen.
According to the police spokesperson, “In the course of the attack, 11 people were killed, while 52 houses were burnt in the two communities.”
Nansel said the Commissioner of Police, Shettima Mohammed, had led a team of senior officers on an on-the-spot assessment to the affected communities to ascertain the level of destruction and ensure that normalcy is restored.
He said the commissioner expressed deep sorrow over the tragic incident and commiserated with the families of the deceased and the communities, assuring them of the command’s unwavering commitment to ensure that justice is served.
According to Nansel, the commissioner has ordered an intensive manhunt for the perpetrators of the heinous act and directed tactical teams and investigative units to ensure their prompt identification, arrest and prosecution.
“To prevent further breakdown of law and order, the commissioner directed the immediate reinforcement and sustained deployment of police personnel to the affected areas,” he said.
He explained that the police is working in collaboration with the military and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, to provide adequate security and restore lasting peace in the area.
The spokesperson said a stakeholders meeting was held during the visit, where the commissioner urged residents to remain calm, law-abiding and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information to support ongoing investigations.
He, therefore, reassured members of the public that normalcy had been restored to the affected communities, while proactive measures had been taken to prevent any recurrence of violence.
