Kogi State Police Command has arrested nine suspects in connection with a communal crisis in Itamah area of Kogi, which occurred after the assassination of the community’s traditional ruler, Onu Itamah Job Shagari.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Bethrand Onuoha, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Lokoja on Thursday.
The late Chief Job Shagari was on August 12 assassinated by some gunmen who invaded the community.
EDITOR’S PICKS
- Japan’s Next PM Vows to Respect BOJ’s Autonomy
- Insecurity: Stop Hiding Behind Opposition—APC Urges Zamfara Govt
- Delta Child Rights Amendment Bill Passes Second Reading
The traditional ruler’s death had created a rift between two families — the Okenyi Abu-Atika and Shagari-Ebijegor, resulting in a communal crisis.
But the police said they had arrested nine suspects and they were trailing other suspects.
“What the police are calling for now is for peace to be allowed to reign in Itamah community. The destruction done in that community is very unfortunate and uncalled for.
“We want a situation where the aggrieved families should come to round table for dialogue toward finding a lasting solution.
“A situation where the community members are involved in an eye for an eye, the whole community will be blind and there won’t be peace there at all,” he said.
Onuoha denied the allegation that the command did not respond to petitions brought before it on arson and hostilities that left some houses and other property razed destroyed.
FURTHER READING
- Bello Turji: More Soldiers Deployed To Zamfara As Deadline For Bandit Leader’s Levy Expires
- Pastor Allegedly Stabs Wife To Death In Anambra
- Insecurity: Stop Hiding Behind Opposition—APC Urges Zamfara Govt
Mr Akoh Jonah, spokesman of the Okenyi Abu-Atika, claimed that more than 40 houses were burnt during the crisis, alleging that the police arrested 11 members of his family.
Mr Gideon Attah from Shagari-Ebijegor family also claimed that his family members were also victims of the attacks.
“We are calling on the government and our traditional rulers — the Attah Igala and the Eje of Idaho — to organise a peace meeting among the aggrieved parties to restore peace to the community,” he pleaded.
Click here to watch our video of the week
Discover more from EkoHotBlog
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Advertise or Publish a Story on EkoHot Blog:
Kindly contact us at [email protected]. Breaking stories should be sent to the above email and substantiated with pictorial evidence.
Citizen journalists will receive a token as data incentive.
Call or Whatsapp: 0803 561 7233, 0703 414 5611
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.ekohotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/AdvertEKOHOT-1024x1024.jpeg?resize=1024%2C1024&ssl=1)