Fresh Graduate killed, three injured in Kogi communal clash

A communal clash between youths in 200 Housing Uniit and Gadumo community both in Ajaokuta Local government of Kogi State have claimed the life of a fresh graduate identified as Ishaq Mohammed .
It was learnt that, the recent attack between both communities saw three person's sustaining various degrees of injuries.

According to family source, late Mohammed was a graduate from Kogi State Polytechni and awaiting his compulsory National Youth Service Corp, NYSC before he met his untimely death.

The deceased who is in his early 20's was the younger brother of Alhaji Abdulsalam Muhammed the Madaki of 200 Housing Uniit.  .

According to investigation, Alhaji Muhammed had filed series of petition stopping the other community from encroaching into their land.
It was gathered that, the crisis between the warring communities could be traced far back to 2013 when one of them insisted that their land has been encroached by the other party.

Confirming the incident,  the chairman of 200 Housing Uniit, Lokoja, Alhaji Zakari Alhassan told Our Kogi State Correspondent that the death of Mohammed has brought sadness to the entire community, adding that justice must take its course.

Alhaji Alhassan allegedly accused the Prince of Gadumo community,  Suru Adama Dauda and his father the Etsu Ankuri of Gadumo, Chief Adama Dauda of masterminding the attack, saying " our boys were working in our community site, when some boys fully armed with guns, cutlasses under the instruction of  Prince Suru and his father attacked our people.
This is not the first time they have been trespassing on our land. They have their own boundary, but they insisted they must take our own land for their own selfish interest. They destroyed so many things. They shot at Mohammed at the back, and we also saw that three others were down with serious injuries. One of our boys immediately alerted the Police, to come to our rescue. We immediately rushed Mohammed to the Kogi State Specialist Hospital, but he eventually gave up the ghost. The three others who sustained injuries, are currently admitted in an undisclosed hospital. We reported the case to the C Division Nigeria Police Force Lokoja and they are currently doing their investigation to bring the perpetuators to book. All we need is that justice must prevail. Who ever that is behind this heinous act must face the full wrath of the law no matter how influential that person may be in the State".

The community leader told Fresh Angle International that the monarch of his community (the deceased brother)  through his counsel on 17th July 2018 had petition various security agencies over the accused illegal dealings in land related matter despite earlier receiving a court judgment dated April 11th 2018 which according to him went in their favor.

The bereaved leader called on the State Government to intervene, stressing that the communal clash between both communities has been for over six years

In his reaction, the Etsu Ankuri of Gadumo, Chief Adama Dauda who spoke through one of his subject Abubakar Isah denied the attack.

The monarch while dismissing the speculation that one of the accused  Prince Suru Adama Dauda is on the run also spoke on the court judgment earlier raised by the 200 housing unit community leader on who should be in control of the area.

According to him, " We didn't not send any body to attack 200 Housing community people. May be it was a mixup somewhere. On the court case I heard they spoke about, it not about who is in control of the land but is about title.

" 200 Housing Uniit is just an estate created by former governor of Kogi State, Late Prince Abubakar Audi and not a community. That area belongs to us. They have been destroying properties and land we allocated for people who intend to put structure. We are the owner of that land and they are just tenant. Go and check the history and you will see that for your self".

Late Isaq Mohammed dream according to the deceased family has been caught shot as he will not be joining his other colleagues to serve his nation for the compulsory National Youth seirvice Corp, NYSC.

 Although the deceased had since been buried according to Islamic rite, but the fear of reprisal attack still worries residents of the affected community.

However, when Our Kogi State Correspondent visited the Nigeria Police Force C Division Lokoja, it was gathered that the case  has been transfered to the State criminal investigation department, but the whereabout of one of the accused is still unknown.

The role of the Divisional Police officer in charge of the division  was however commended, as he continued to sue for peace despite the tensed situation between both communities.

Efforts to speak with the Police Public Relation Officer, William Aya to confirm the incident hit brick walls as all his lines were switched off but a Senior Police Officer who do not want his name to be mentioned said he traveled out on official assignment.

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