Police operatives in Kogi have arrested nine suspects over a communal crisis in the Itamah area of the state.
The crisis occurred following the assassination of the community’s traditional ruler, Onu Itamah Job Shagari.
The monarch was killed by gunmen who invaded the community on August 12.
The traditional ruler’s death had created a rift between two families — the Okenyi Abu-Atika and Shagari-Ebijegor – in the community.
The state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bethrand Onuoha, confirmed the arrest to journalists on Thursday in Lokoja.
The CP said police operatives are trailing other suspects.
He said: “What the police are calling for now is for peace to be allowed to reign in the Itamah community.
“The destruction done in that community is very unfortunate and uncalled for.
“We want a situation where the aggrieved families should come to a round table for dialogue toward finding a lasting solution.
“A situation where the community members are involved in an eye for an eye, the whole community will be blind and there won’t be peace there at all.”
Onuoha denied the allegation that the command did not respond to petitions on the crisis that led to the destruction of houses and other property in the community.
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