No fewer than three people have lost their lives as a result of chieftaincy tussle in Ankpa local government area of Kogi state.
It was learnt that the lingering disagreement over who among two clans in Akwu community produced the village head, snowballed into a full-blown fracas which led to the death of the victims Wednesday night.
Sources who pleaded anonymity said that the disagreement over the Onu Akwu stool has been on for years and had led to litigation.
“We were sleeping when we heard commotion from the eastern part of the community and when I came out, some houses were already on fire,” said a source.
He noted that 20 houses were razed in the clash which lasted over five hours.
According to him: “We retrieved three bodies and evacuated many injured to health centers and hospitals in Ankpa and environs.”
Among the houses burnt were those of the administrator for Ankpa LGA, Mr. John Aduga, whose kinsman is said to be one of the contenders to the chieftaincy.
The Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, William Aya, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP, confirmed the incident on Thursday.
According to him, altercation over chieftaincy claiming led to the clash, with consequent deaths and destruction.
He said that apart from the three deaths recorded and houses razed, five motorcycles were also burnt in the fracas.
He said the number of casualties could have been higher if not for the timely intervention of police operatives from the Ankpa Division.
He however said that no arrest has been made in connection with the incident as residents deserted the community on sighting men of the command
