Police confirm 16 dead in Bauchi communal clash

Bauchi – The Police in Bauchi State, Friday said  16 people were killed  while  20 houses were burnt in Kurum village of  Bogoro Local Government Area of  the state  during a night attack by  gunmen on Wednesday.

The  state’s Commissioner of  Police, Mr John Abakasanga,  told  the News Agency of  Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi that the  motive behind  the attack was not known.

He, however, said the attack followed one of   the serial raids in successive months.

The police boss said  gunmen   had adopted a hit-and-run strategy in  raiding the area, adding that the police were  investigating the cause of  the attack.

Also speaking to NAN, Mr Bukata Zhadi,  the Secretary of  Zaar Elders and Traditional Rulers in Bogoro and Tafawa Balewa councils, said three more persons receiving treatment in the hospital died,  bringing the number of  the dead  to 19.

Zhadi said that many other persons were in critical condition in various hospitals.

The secretary hinged  the recurrent crisis on the state government’s failure to tackle the problem.

NAN reports that since a crisis erupted in Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro councils on  Jan. 27, there had  been several attacks in  the communities with many  killed and  several houses destroyed.

Meanwhile, the state government has announced  that it was aware of some individuals and groups who incite youths and hire mercenaries to perpetrate violence.