Thursday, November 22, 2012

Five killed as ethnic groups clash in Nasarawa


No fewer than five persons were killed, while over 12 houses have been set ablaze in Gwadanye area of Agyaragu, Obi local government area of Nasarawa State in a renewed clash between Migili and Eggon ethnic groups.

The state Commissioner of Police Abayomi Akeremale who confirmed the death of the five, said that several houses were also razed as a result of the hostility between two tribes.

Nigerian Compass gathered that the incident occurred when a motorcycle allegedly stolen by yet to be identified person found its way into Gwadanye area whose people are Migili and have a long standing hatred for the people of Angwan Yakubu where the motorcycle is alleged to be stolen from.

It was gathered  that effort by the people of Angwan Yakubu to fish out the alleged culprit from amongst their long time rival in Gwadanye resulted into a fracas that led to the deaths and burning of over 15 houses.

The State Assembly's Deputy Speaker, Elisha Agwadu, whose constituency office was also razed, said that he was in Benue State University, Makurdi writing his semester exams when he was contacted that his constituency has been enmeshed in crisis.

Armed police men have since been deployed to the scene to bring the situation under control as at the time of filling in this reports, though sporadic shooting and  flames from razed houses were still on. 

Building collapses in Lagos
Tragedy struck yesterday at Block M20 LSDPC Housing Estate, Oke-Afa in Ejigbo Local Government Area of Lagos State, when a two-storey building collapsed, killing two sisters, Toyin Coker and Bukola Coker and injuring their mother, Mrs. Christiana Adebisi Coker.

Nigerian Compass gathered that the building, which collapsed around 1a.m, had given signs of distress around 12:30a.m.

A resident in the building, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he heard the cracks of the building around 12:30am and immediately raised an alarm for other residents to vacate.

He said people in the building, comprising six units of flats, were able to come out before the building finally caved in except the Coker family who were said to be sleeping at the time and eventually got trapped in the rubble.

When officials of National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) and Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) arrived the scene, they were able to rescue Mrs. Coker alive and helped to recover the bodies of the deceased.

The severely injured Mrs. Coker is still receiving treatment at the Ejigbo Council Hospital while the remains of the deceased have been deposited at Isolo General Hospital mortuary.

It was gathered that the building had earlier been marked for demolition and occupants directed to move out but Mrs. Coker and others who occupied the second floor of the building did not heed the warning.

According to NEMA Zonal Coordinator for South-West, Mr. Iyiola Akande, “the house gave signs and residents in the building were warned. Some heeded the warning and left. The only family that remained in the building became victim of the collapse.

“A councilor from Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, (LCDA) who came here early in the morning told us that residents in the building had been forewarned about the dangerous state of the building and that was attested to by those who had moved out of the building.”

Sympathising with the victims, the Information Officer, Ejigbo LCDA, Mr. Hassan Rabiu who was at the scene of the incident said Mrs. Coker was in stable condition but lamented that the death of her two children, one of whom recently graduated from a college of medicine could have been avoided; had the family heeded the council’s warning.

Sympathisers at the scene complained openly that many buildings in the low-cost housing estate is distressed, urging LASEMA, NEMA and other relevant government agencies to do something in order to prevent future occurrence.

As at the time of filing this report, LASMA officials had completely pulled down the building, reducing it to rubble.

No comments: