Police in Nasarawa have confirmed that a communal crisis left 11 people dead and more than 50 houses destroyed, with security agencies launching a manhunt for the attackers.
The Police Command in Nasarawa State has confirmed the death of 11 persons and the destruction of more than 50 houses following a communal crisis in Akyawa and Udege Kasa communities of Nasarawa Local Government Area.
The Command’s spokesman, SP Ramhan Nansel, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday in Lafia.
Nansel said the incident occurred on Friday morning when suspected hoodlums carried out a reprisal attack over the alleged killing of two of their kinsmen.
“In the course of the attack, 11 people were killed, while about 52 houses were burnt in the two communities,” he said.
He stated that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Shetima Mohammed, led a team on an on-the-spot assessment of the affected communities to ascertain the level of destruction and ensure restoration of normalcy.
According to him, the CP expressed deep sorrow over the incident and commiserated with families of the deceased and affected communities, assuring them of the command’s commitment to ensuring justice.
Nansel added that the CP ordered an intensive manhunt for the perpetrators and directed tactical teams and investigative units to ensure their prompt identification, arrest and prosecution.
“To prevent any further breakdown of law and order, the Commissioner of Police has also directed the immediate reinforcement and sustained deployment of Police personnel to the affected areas,” he said.
He further explained that the police were working in collaboration with the military and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to provide adequate security and restore lasting peace.
The police spokesperson also said a stakeholders’ meeting was held during the visit, where residents were urged to remain calm, law-abiding and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information to support ongoing investigations.
He reassured members of the public that normalcy had been restored, while proactive measures had been taken to prevent a recurrence of violence.
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