The police command in Nasarawa State has confirmed the death of 11 persons and burning of 52 houses in a reprisal on Friday in Akyawa and Udege Kasa communities of Nasarawa Local Government Area.
The state police spokesperson, SP Ramhan Nansel, confirmed the development in a statement on Saturday in Lafia.
He said that the incident occurred on Friday when suspected hoodlums carried out a reprisal over the alleged killing of two of their kinsmen.
Mr Nansel stated, “In the course of the attack, 11 people were killed, while about 52 houses were burnt in the two communities.”
Mr Nansel stated that the state Commissioner of Police, Shetima Mohammed, led a team on an on-the-spot assessment to the affected communities to ascertain the level of destruction and restore normalcy.
He said that the CP expressed deep sorrow over the incident and commiserated with the families of the deceased and the communities, assuring them of the command’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that justice was served.
According to Nansel, said the CP has ordered an intensive manhunt for the perpetrators of the heinous act and directed tactical teams and investigative units to ensure their prompt identification, arrest, and prosecution.
He said, “To prevent any further breakdown of law and order, the commissioner of police has also directed the immediate reinforcement and sustained deployment of police personnel to the affected areas.”
He explained that the police were working in collaboration with the military and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to provide adequate security and restore lasting peace in the area.
The police spokesperson further said that a stakeholders’ meeting was held during the visit, where the CP urged residents to remain calm, law-abiding, and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information to support ongoing investigations.
He reassured members of the public that normalcy had been restored to the affected communities, while proactive measures had been taken to prevent any recurrence of violence.