Over ten people were said to have lost their lives, in a renewed ethnic clashes in Bassa local government area of Kogi State, following the return of the Egburas who were displaced from their community in Biroko, during the hostilities between the Bassa Kwomu and Egburas in April last year.

Our correspondent reliably gathered that following the intervention of elders from the area, the Egburas who left their homes when the community was razed down were asked to return, to pave way for lasting peace among the two ethnic groups.

However, when the Ebguras returned to Biroko yesterday, some Bassa militias were alleged to have attacked them, insisting that it would be too risky to allow the people they forced out to return, considering the proximity between Biroko and Sheria, a major settlement of the Bassa Kwomu ethnic group.



This development, according to the source, led to renewed hostilities between the two ethnic groups, thereby forcing residents of the area to flee, so as not to be consumed in the crisis.

The source further disclosed that tension began to build in the area when Bassa Kwomu militias allegedly attempted to attack the Ohiogba of Mozum and paramount ruler of the Egburas, Alhaji Halidu Bukar Ali, when the royal father went to Oguma for a peace talks.

According to the source, the Ohiogba, with the administrator of the local government, Mr. Sam Alumka and other government officials branched at the palace of Aguma of Bassa Kwomu, on their way to resettle the people of Biroko community.

The Bassa Kwomu militias, it was further gathered, locked the gate of the palace of Aguma, saying it was God that brought the Ohiogba and some prominent Egburas leaders into their fold.

Seeing that the life of Ohiogba of Mozum and his people were under a serious threat, the security agents at the palace of Oguma, particularly the military threatened to open fire on who ever attempts to undermine peace in the area.



The source added that it was by sheer determination and bravely displayed by the military that enabled the Ohiogba and some Egburas leaders to escape from the palace of the Aguma of Bassa Kwomu at Oguma.

He therefore appealed to the state government to take decisive steps to tackle the matter before it gets out of hand, maintaining that the local government is presently in disarray, as thousands of residents have fled for fear of being caught in cross fire.

He disclosed that hundreds of people in the area are currently taking refuge in neighbouring villages in Dekina local government so as to escape from the crisis, even as he confirmed that many lives might have been lost in the renewed hostilities.

http://kogireports.com/kogi-renewed-ethnic-clash-claims-10-in-bassa/