No fewer than three persons were reportedly shot dead at Odenigida ward of Udege Development Area in Nasarawa LGA of Nasarawa State in a land dispute in the area.
Investigation by City & Crime indicated that two communities had engaged each other in a long battle over the ownership of a historical land and they are currently in court on the matter.
Our correspondent gathered that the unfortunate incident happened in the early hours of Sunday.
A source from the area, who wouldn’t want his name in the print, told this reporter that the incident led to the loss of lives and property worth millions of naira.
“I woke up in the early hours of Sunday and all of a sudden I started hearing gunshots. People were running from pillar to post and some who could not escape ran into the crisis and that is how some of them lost their lives,” a source told our correspondent.
Further investigation by our correspondent showed that there was still tension in the two communities.
According to the source, security operatives, including the military, police and other agencies have since taken control of the affected communities to avert further escalation of the crisis.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Ramhan Nansel, could not be reached for comment as several calls and text messages sent to his mobile phone were not replied to as at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, a member representing Udege/Loko constituency at the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Mr Mohammed Okpoku Odege, has urged the people of Odeni Gida in his constituency to remain calm and embrace peace for the overall development of the area.
He made the call during a peace and security meeting in Udege, Nasarawa LGA of the state on Monday.
Also speaking, the chairman, Nasarawa LGC, Mr Sani Ottos and Overseer, Udege Development Area, Mr. Salihu Adamu, among other stakeholders and traditional leaders, urged the people of the area to embrace peace at all times.
