Several houses were yesterday burnt with properties destroyed in resumed clashes between K-Dere and B-Dere village communities in Gokana local government area of Rivers State.
Six persons had been killed when the fight first broke out between the villagers over disagreements arising from an English Premier League match between arch rivals Manchester United and Arsenal, which took place in far away England on December 13.
The game ended 1-0 in favour of United.
Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Suleiman Abba confirmed yesterday’s hostilities and said houses were destroyed alongside properties but he could not give details.
Abba said the conflict started in the early hours of yesterday when K-Dere community attacked the B-Dere community, burning down houses and destroying properties.
Trustsports gathered that the attack was a reprisal to avenge damages suffered by K-Dere after the first skirmish on December 13 at the football viewing centre.
Trustsports learnt that the problem started when members of K-Dere community visited neighbouring B-Dere community (separated by a street) to watch Manchester United and Arsenal match a fortnight ago during which a member of the host (B-Dere) Community, supporting Arsenal got angry seeing United leading the Gunners and attempted to switch-off a generator used to power the viewing centre. The visiting members of K-Dere community felt aggrieved and thereafter hot arguments ensured. Tempers flared and soon after the quarrel assumed communal dimension. A bloody fight ensued with the villagers attacking each other leading to the death of six persons.
The violence appeared to have ended until yesterday’s attack by K-Dere suspected to have been on revenge mission.
The police commissioner said there was no report of death as at evening even though houses were confirmed to have been burnt.
The police chief said he was still awaiting further brief from the Divisional Police Officer in Gokana, who is in charge of the communities. He however confirmed that anti riot policemen were quickly drafted to contain the violence.
The Rivers State Government yesterday inaugurated a six -man judicial commission of inquiry to investigate the crisis. The committee was actually set up last week over the December 13 fight only for another clash to resume.
Governor, Rotimi Amaechi while inaugurating the members of the commission, directed them to fish-out the perpetrators of the violence with a promise of bringing them to book.