Fresh graduate shot dead, three others injured in Kogi communal clash
A communal clash between youths in 200 housing unit 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.
Late Mohammed, a fresh graduate from Kogi State Polytechnic, according to a family source was waiting for his compulsory National Youth Service before he met his untimely death.
The deceased who is in his early 20’s was the younger brother of the Madaki of 200 housing unit, Alhaji Abdulsalam Muhammed who 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 to as far back as 2013 when one of them alleged that their land had been encroached upon by the other party.
Confirming the incident, the chairman of 200 housing unit Lokoja, Alhaji Zakari Alhassan told our 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 insist 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.
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” We reported the case to the C division Nigeria Police Force Lokoja, and the currently doing their investigation to bring the perpetrators to book. All we need is that justice must prevail. Whoever 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 our correspondent that the monarch of his community (the deceased brother) through his counsel on 17th July, 2018 had petitioned various security agencies over the accused illegal dealings in the land related matter despite earlier receiving a court judgment dated April 11th 2018 which according to him went in their favour.
In his reaction, the Etsu Ankuri of Gadumo, Chief Adama Dauda who spoke through one of his subjects, 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 anybody to attack 200 housing community people. Maybe it was a mess up 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 unit is just an estate created by former governor of Kogi State Late Prince Abubakar Audu 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’s dream according to the deceased family has been caught short as he will not be joining his other colleagues to serve his nation for the compulsory national youth service corps (NYSC).
Although the deceased had since been buried according to Islamic rite, fear of reprisal attack still worries residents of the affected community.
However, when our correspondent visited the Nigeria Police Force, C Division Lokoja, it was gathered that the case has been transferred to the State criminal investigation department, but the whereabouts 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 Relations Officer, William Aya, to confirm the incident hit brick walls as all his lines were switched off, but a senior Police officer who does not want his name to be mentioned said he travelled out on an official assignment.
