Kwara Communal Clash: Six Persons Injured

By Steve Oni, Ilorin

No fewer than six persons have sustained serious injuries in the wake of the communal clash between Lafiagi and Edogi communities in Edu local government area of Kwara state over land dispute.

CityMirrorNews gathered that a court had given judgment in favour of one of the communities, restraining the two neighbouring communities from doing anything on the land pending the determination of the substantive case.

The immediate cause of the clash, which allegedly broke out on Monday night and lasted till the early hours of Tuesday, was when one of the rival community members allegedly broke the court order by trespassing on the disputed parcel of land, prompting some angry youths from the other community to take the law into their hands, thereby resulting in free for all.

In the process, unconfirmed reports said that scores of houses were torched. But the state police command debunked the the insinuation, saying only a kiosk where an Edogi person was selling engine oil was burnt.

The state Police Command’s Spokesperson Ajayi Okasanmi confirmed the incident, saying: “Only one person is critically injured while five others sustained minor injuries.

“I can confirm to you that no life was lost. Also, no houses were burnt during the clash.

“Calm has returned to the two communities as the command this morning deployed a detachment of policemen to the scene of the fracas, and they have arrested some people in connection with the clash. But I cannot tell you the exact number of people arrested for now.”