Five Killed in Renewed Kogi Land Disputes

At least, five people were killed and several injured in Iyano village of Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi State, when youths, suspected to be from Aluaja clan,allegedly destroyed some farmsin Iru clan of the village.

Aluaja, Iru, Itale clans and Abujaga village have been involved in land disputes for some time.

The District Police Officer, ASP Aaron Godwin Abah, who confirmed the incident said only two people were killed and three others wounded in the renewed clash.

He said that a detachment of mobile policemen had been drafted to the area to restore normalcy, adding that a fight broke out between the clans when the owner of a yamfarm, which was destroyed in the alleged attack, challenged the attackers.

Abah said the wounded persons were taken to the hospital for treatment while the dead were deposited at the mortuary.

The youth leader from Iru clan, Felix Apeh, blamed the Aluaja people for allegedly frustrating efforts to restorepeace to the warring communities.

He said, “There have been moves to reconcile the three clans and the village by the officials of the state and local government, but the Aluaja clan has refused to abide by the settlement.”

Efforts to reach the youth leader of Aluaja clan, as at the time of filing this report, proved abortive as the phone call to him was not picked.

Last year, the police in Lokoja, averted what could have been a bloody clash when some youths from Aluaja allegedly attacked Iru and Itale clans over a disputed fish pond, leaving one Umoru Onyido of Itale dead. The reprisal attack left one Emmanuel Onwuene of Aluaja clan dead.