There was panic on Wednesday following a clash between rival youth groups from Kwaru and Unguwar Yero communities in Kaduna North Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The clash, which reportedly left some people injured, was said to have followed a disagreement between youths from the two communities about a week ago. Three persons reportedly sustained injuries during the earlier incident.
One of the injured youths from Unguwar Yero later died from his injuries, triggering anger among his friends, who allegedly attempted to avenge his death on Wednesday.
A resident of Kwaru, who identified himself as Sule, said the incident caused panic among residents, forcing some schoolchildren to flee their schools.
He said the incident occurred around 9 am when he heard noise and came out to see some youths throwing stones at one another.
‘On Wednesday, after the children had gone to school, we started hearing noise. When I came out, I saw people gathering, while some were throwing stones at one another between the youths from Unguwar Yero and some residents of Kwaru who had gone to the cemetery,’ he said.
Sule said the incident had heightened tension in the area, recalling that the two communities had experienced similar disagreements in the past before relative peace was restored.
He confirmed that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and police had been deployed to the area to restore normalcy.
Another resident, Mohammed, expressed concern over recurring disagreements among youths from the two communities.
He said many of the youths were friends who often gathered to smoke, adding that it was unfortunate that disagreements between them were sometimes given ethnic or religious interpretations.
‘They are youths who are friends, but whenever there is a disagreement among them, some people try to turn it into an ethnic or religious issue. That is not right,’ he said.
Police dismiss religious claims
The Kaduna State Police Command has dismissed reports of a religious clash in Unguwar Yero, describing the incident as a confrontation between youths from the area.
The Command said the situation had been brought under control following the intervention of security operatives.
Police spokesperson in the state, Mansir Hassan, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, in response to a video circulating on social media alleging a religious conflict in the area.
Hassan said adequate security personnel had been deployed to the community to prevent further escalation and ensure lasting peace.
He said the Commissioner of Police had cautioned members of the public against spreading unverified information, sensational reports and misleading narratives capable of creating tension and inciting violence.
He urged residents to exercise restraint, embrace mutual tolerance and maintain peaceful coexistence, irrespective of their differences.