From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
No fewer than 18 persons were allegedly killed while over twenty houses were razed down during Bassa/Igburra renewed crisis in Basa local government area of Kogi state.
Our correspondent gathered that the renewed crisis erupted on Monday May 30, when two Bassas were alledgedly killed at a farm at Uga-Cheure near Oguma and Korumu near Udogbo in Bassa Local Government Area.
It was further learnt that due to past hostilities between Igburra Mozum and Bassas in the area, the Bassas were said to have believed that it was Igburra Mozum people who carried out the killings even though the perpetrators were not apprehended at the scene of the crime.
Bassa Kwomo people were said to have reported the incident to the Divisional Police post (DPO) at Oguma and remained calm. While the dust of the killings were yet to settle, It was gathered that two Bassas were allegedly killed at a farm in Sheria and Korumu near Odugbo respectively on thursday of the same week being June 2, 2022.
Our correspondent also gathered that another crisis erupted at Udogbo with burning of houses by unknown gunmen in the early hours of Saturday June 4.
A community leader in Bassa, Mr Keke Kaku who spoke with newsmen said the police and the army stationed at Oguma swung into action to quell the crisis of both Monday May 30 and Thursday June 2, 2022.
“By Saturday morning both the police and a detachment of the army moved to Udogbo town to repell the invading gunmen,” he said.
A reliable source which claimed anonymity, however, said not less than eighteen persons have loss their lives from both the Igburras and the Bassas with properties worth millions of naira burnt to ashes in Udogbo town.
Meanwhile, the Kogi State Police Command says normalcy has since returned to the troubled Igburra and Bassa Community in Bassa Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Williams Ayah made the disclosure with newsmen in Lokoja said a deployment of Army and the Police have been sent to the area. He however denied any casualty following the renewed attack.
Also a member representing the Bassa state Constituency at the Kogi State House of Assembly, Honourable Ranyi Daniya has however called on the people of Bassa local government area to maintain peace.
He also called on the security agents to leave no stone unturned in arresting the perpetrators of this dastardly act.
In the same vein, the Chairman of Bassa local government area, Hon Muktar Shuaibu also visited the affected areas and called for calmness of all citizens to allow security agencies to do their work.
Our correspondent gathered that Bassa local government area had for long being a theatre of crisis but had a relief of peace in the last two years due to the security intervention of Governor Yahaya Bello‘s administration.
