By Correspondent in Lokoja
Normalcy has returned to Bassa Local Governnent Area of kogi state, after the bloody crisis that erupted between the people of Bassa and Egbura speaking of Mozum district in the area.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the Police Command in the state,SP William Ovye Aya, made this known on Saturday in Lokoja while confirming the crisis to newsmen.
On the sources which claimed that more than 18 died and more 20 houses burnt during the crisis, Aya said he was not aware of the number of casualty and houses destroyed.
Our Correspondent gathered that the lingering hostility was caused by suspicion between the two warring communities over incessant killings of people in the area.
The Reporters gathered that the age-long crisis, which subsided for sometime, resurfaced in the early hours of Friday and lasted til Saturday at Udogbo, atown attacked by gunmen,leading to burning of houses and killing of people.
Commenting on the development in an interview with newsmen,a community leader in Bassa, Mr Keke Kaku, said the police and the army stationed at Oguma, quickly went into action to quell the crisis, adding that the crisis consumed six people of his community.
Another source who claimed anonymity, however, said that at least,eighteen persons lost their lives from both the Egburas and the Bassas communities, adding that properties worth millions of naira were burnt to ashes in Udogbo town.
A member representing the Bassa Constituency at the Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon.Ranyi Daniya, urged Bassas to maintain peace and called on the security agencies not to leave any stone unturned in bringing the perpetrators of the dastardly act to justice.
Contributing, the Chairman of Bassa Local Governnent Area, Mr Muktar Shuaibu, who visited the affected areas also called on the people to ensure calmness as well allow security agencies to do their work in order to get to the root of the crisis.
Sources identity fish pound, farmland and ethnic rivalry as some of the causes of the crisis between the two communities.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
