No fewer than two persons have been killed in a communal clash between the people of Gulu Angwua and those of Vatsa in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State.
It was reliably gathered that the clash, which left several others injured with many houses as well as cars destroyed, started on Monday and extended to Tuesday morning between the two communities that have been living peacefully side by side for several years.
The Eagle Online gathered that the clash was caused by a dispute over a piece of land between the two communities.
It was said the dispute had been on for a few years.
Both communities are claiming ownership to the land that separates them.
An eyewitness told The Eagle Online that the trouble started on Monday when the youths who came for the Sallah break decided to solve the lingering problem caused by the land dispute between the two communities.
The youths, it was learnt, decided to plant flowers between the two communities to clearly delineate the areas, but trouble started when an agreement could not be reached between the two communities.
Consequently, it was learnt that people started burning each others’ properties, including cars and houses, as well as causing bodily injuries.
The fight led to the death of two persons.
It was further gathered that many of those injured were rushed to hospitals in Gulu and Lapai for medical attention.
Some of those injured were said to be in critical condition.
Confirming the clash, the Niger State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Mallam Ibrahim Abiodun Gambari, said the police was on top of the situation and normalcy had since returned to the area.
Gambari, a DSP,said the operation to restore peace was still ongoing.
He said he could not confirm the number of casualties.