By Ado Oyeyemi
A violent confrontation between rival youth groups in Minna, Niger State, turned tragic after one person was killed and two others sustained injuries during a police intervention.
The incident occurred late on Sunday in the Dutsen-Kura Gwari and Fadikpe communities, areas that have witnessed repeated clashes involving rival youth groups in recent months.
Residents said the latest violence was an extension of unrest that began on Thursday, escalating into a full-scale confrontation on Sunday night.
Fearing the situation was spiralling out of control, community members reportedly alerted the police for intervention.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity over security concerns, alleged that officers responding to the distress call fired shots while attempting to restore order, resulting in the death of one youth and injuries to two others.
“The fighting became uncontrollable, and people were running for safety. We called the police to intervene.
During the operation, gunshots rang out, one of the youths was hit, and two others were injured before they were taken to the hospital,” the resident said.
However, the Niger State Police Command gave a different account of the incident, insisting that its operatives came under attack from suspected hoodlums after arriving at the scene.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said the command received a distress call at about 11:30 p.m. on June 28, reporting a violent clash involving suspected miscreants in the affected communities.
According to him, officers attached to the GRA Division were immediately deployed to restore peace, but the suspects allegedly opened fire on the operatives, forcing the police to respond.
Abiodun said one of the suspects, identified as Mohammed Mohammed of Dutsen-Kura, was killed during the exchange of gunfire, while two others suffered gunshot wounds.
He added that another suspect, Ismail Shehu, sustained machete injuries during the violence, while two locally fabricated firearms were recovered from the scene.
The police spokesperson disclosed that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other suspects who fled after the clash.
Meanwhile, residents expressed concern over the recurring violence in the communities, warning that the repeated clashes continue to endanger lives and property.
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They urged security agencies and community leaders to implement lasting measures to curb youth violence and prevent further loss of lives.
