A 40-year-old Haruna Mohammed from Tswako Makun village and Mohammed Kolo (20) from Gbangba Dzuko village, both in Gbako LGA of Niger State have been reportedly killed in a clash between the two villages.
The clash, which reportedly happened in the night on Monday led to the burning of houses, food stuffs and motorcycles in Tswako Makun village.
The clash was said to have started during a wedding reception at Tswako Makun when a boy alleged to be from Gbangba Dzuko attempted to kiss one of the brides while the grooms and their wives were dancing.
Sources told City & Crime that the boy, who was allegedly beaten by friends of the groom, was taken to Lemu General Hospital from where he was referred to the Federal Medical Centre, Bida, where he died.
Angered by the death, the youths from Gbangba Dzuko allegedly mobilised to Tswako Makun and launched a reprisal attack, killing one person and setting houses, farm produce and motorcycles ablaze.
Our correspondent was told that 12 motorcycles, bags of groundnut, and other food items, millions of naira in cash stored at homes, houses and other valuables were burnt, while some people sustained injuries including one of the grooms, and they were taken to Lemu General Hospital.
The Press Secretary to Gbako LGA chairman, Yahaya Alhaji Ibrahim, in a statement, confirmed the incident.
He said the chairman of Gbako LGA, Hassan Muhammad, had visited the two communities on a spot assessment to condole and sympathise with the victims.
He said the chairman’s visit was a step towards resolving the crisis and to restore peace to the affected communities.
He said the chairman had pleaded with the residents of Tswako Makun, who fled their homes to the neighbouring communities, to return, saying that security personnel had been directed to monitor the situation.
The Niger State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, did not reply to a message sent to his phone on the incident.