4 hospitalised as Kaduna youths clash over cemetery

Four persons were critically injured and two houses reportedly torched following a violent clash between youths in Nasarawa community, Chikun Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State, over the use of a disputed cemetery.

The incident, which occurred at about 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, was said to have stemmed from disagreements over a cemetery belonging to the Kakuri community in Kaduna South LGA, which is shared by Muslim and Christian residents of Nasarawa community.

Residents said the crisis began when some youths from the neighbouring Kakuri community allegedly went to clean the cemetery but were confronted by other youths playing football on a field beside it. The disagreement reportedly escalated when a group later arrived to bury a deceased person.

A resident, who identified himself simply as Timothy, said security operatives swiftly moved into the area to contain the situation.

“Our internal security is here as well. The Garrison Commander of One Division is here. The Speaker of the House of Assembly is here. Quite a number of stakeholders are on the ground,” he said.

He confirmed that two houses were set ablaze during the unrest.

“Yes, two houses were affected. We have four people hospitalised at the moment, and they are critically injured, but there is no casualty yet. Some people were asleep when the incident happened,” he added.

Sources said the crisis later assumed a religious dimension, although the cemetery had previously been demarcated for use by both Muslim and Christian residents.

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Kaduna State Police Command, DSP Mansir Hassan, confirmed that calm had been restored.

“Normalcy has returned to the community,” he said.

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