Six people are feared dead after a violent clash erupted in Akokwa community in Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State between some Hausa residents and some members of the host community.
Confirming the incident on Friday, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, said preliminary investigations revealed that the clash was triggered by an alleged murder of a woman by a Hausa man.
Murdered With A Shovel
He told Channels Television that the middle aged Hausa man, who works as a security guard in the area, had a misunderstanding with a young woman which became intense that the man murdered the woman with a shovel.
Mr Lakanu also said that the Hausa allegedly went ahead to kill the woman’s friend who was trying to settle the issue.
“On seeing the level of crime committed, the Hausa man went ahead and committed suicide,” he said.
The commissioner further noted that as the news filtered round the community, there was a reprisal attack by members of the community against northerners in the area which left three other people dead.
However, the Commissioner of Police said the command had deployed adequate policemen in the area to prevent any further breakdown of law and order.
In the meantime, the state government has called on indigenes of the state to remain calm and go about their lawful duties, as the security agents were making efforts to bring the situation under absolute control.