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Why Police Avert Communal Crisis as Youths Clash Over Colleague’s Death in Kaduna
The Kaduna State Police Command has prevented a possible communal crisis following a violent clash between youths from Kwaru and Unguwar Yero communities in Kaduna North Local Government Area of the state.
The clash, which reportedly left several people injured, occurred on Wednesday morning following tensions over the death of a youth who sustained injuries during an earlier confrontation between members of the two communities.
The deceased, said to be from Unguwar Yero, reportedly died from injuries sustained during a disagreement with youths from Kwaru about a week earlier.
His death allegedly triggered anger among his friends, who reportedly mobilised on Wednesday in an attempt to avenge him, sparking renewed violence between the communities.
The development caused panic among residents, with some schoolchildren reportedly fleeing their schools as rival groups engaged in stone-throwing and other acts of violence.
A resident of Kwaru, who identified himself as Sule, said the incident started around 9am when he heard noise and came outside to discover youths throwing stones at one another.
“Some youths from Kwaru and Unguwar Yero had a disagreement about a week ago, during which a young man was injured and later died.
“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 heightened tension in the area, noting that the communities had experienced similar disagreements in the past before peace was eventually restored.
He confirmed that security operatives, including personnel of the Department of State Services, police and Mobile Police, were deployed to the area to prevent further violence.
Another resident, Mohammed, expressed concern over the recurring disagreements among youths from the two communities, warning against attempts to give such disputes ethnic or religious colouration.
According to him, many of the youths involved were friends who regularly associated with one another.
“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.
A teacher in the area, Bashir, also confirmed that three youths sustained injuries during the earlier confrontation, one of whom later died.
He, however, said normal activities were gradually returning to the communities following the deployment of security personnel.
There were also indications that the violence threatened to spread to neighbouring communities before security operatives intervened.
Confirming the incident, the Kaduna State Police Command spokesman, DSP Mansir Hassan, said the situation had been brought under control following the deployment of security personnel.
“The situation is under control following a massive deployment of security personnel to the communities,” he said.
The police intervention prevented the dispute from escalating into a wider security crisis.
Residents have called for sustained security presence and peaceful engagement among youths and community leaders to prevent further violence.
However, it was not confirmed as of the time of filing this report whether a curfew had been imposed on the affected communities.
