News
Police arrests 9 over communal crisis in Kogi
Police operatives in Kogi have arrested nine suspects over a communal crisis in the Itamah area of the state.
The crisis occurred following the assassination of the community’s traditional ruler, Onu Itamah Job Shagari.
The monarch was killed by gunmen who invaded the community on August 12.
The traditional ruler’s death had created a rift between two families — the Okenyi Abu-Atika and Shagari-Ebijegor – in the community.
The state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bethrand Onuoha, confirmed the arrest to journalists on Thursday in Lokoja.
The CP said police operatives are trailing other suspects.
READ ALSO: Police arrests local government chairman for alleged violence in Edo
He said: “What the police are calling for now is for peace to be allowed to reign in the 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 a 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.”
Onuoha denied the allegation that the command did not respond to petitions on the crisis that led to the destruction of houses and other property in the community.
Join the conversation
Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism
Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.
As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.
If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.
Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.