Police Arrest 9 Suspects in Kogi Communal Crisis After Traditional Ruler’s Assassination

Police Arrest 9 Suspects in Kogi Communal Crisis After Traditional Ruler’s Assassination

The Kogi State Police Command has arrested nine suspects in connection with a communal crisis that erupted in the Itamah area following the assassination of the community’s traditional ruler, Onu Itamah Job Shagari.

The Commissioner of Police, Bethrand Onuoha, disclosed the arrests in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lokoja. He noted that the crisis stemmed from tensions between two families, the Okenyi Abu-Atika and Shagari-Ebijegor, after Chief Shagari was killed by gunmen who invaded the community on August 12.

Onuoha revealed that while nine suspects have been apprehended, the police are still pursuing others involved in the violence. He urged both families to seek a peaceful resolution through dialogue to prevent further destruction.

“The destruction caused in the community is tragic and avoidable,” Onuoha said. “We are calling on the aggrieved families to come together for dialogue. If they continue down this path of revenge, the entire community will suffer.”

The police commissioner also denied allegations that the command had ignored petitions regarding the ongoing violence, which has led to significant property damage, including arson and destruction of homes.

Mr. Akoh Jonah, a spokesperson for the Okenyi Abu-Atika family, claimed that over 40 houses were burned during the clashes, accusing the police of arresting 11 members of his family. Similarly, Mr. Gideon Attah from the Shagari-Ebijegor family also reported that his relatives were victims of the attacks.

Both families have called on the Kogi government and traditional leaders, including the Attah Igala and the Eje of Idah, to intervene and organize a peace meeting to restore calm to the embattled community.