HOSTILITIES again erupted yesterday in the Gokana Local Council of Rivers State when irate youths from Bodo on an alleged reprisal mission invaded another community, Mgobo.
At the end of the ensuing skirmishes no fewer than eight persons were feared dead and 30 houses razed.
Yesterday’s violence climaxed events which began on Thursday when Mgobo youths were said to have killed a commercial bus driver at Kpor, the local council headquarters.
Scores of Bodo indigenes were also reportedly attacked on the said day with many of them sustaining several machete cuts.
The Thursday events were however said to have been informed by the discovery of the mutilated body of a 63- year-old woman by Mgobo people on their way to their farms.
When the news filtered into Mgobo, accusing fingers were pointed at Bodo, which does not even share direct boundary with them.
Infuriated by the brutal murder of the old woman, irate youths thirsty for revenge mounted a checkpoint at the road leading to Bodo.
Hence, indigenes of Bodo travelling home were intercepted at Mgobo and brutalised. The Guardian learnt that severe machete cut wounds were inflicted on them irrespective of their age and or sex.
Shocked by the unprovoked attack, indigenes of Bodo decided to stage a peaceful protest to the Kpor police station to formally launch a complaint, calling for urgent intervention.
But as they were returning home, some youths from
Mgobo were alleged to have stormed the police station and killed a popular commercial bus driver, Nayone Kornom, said to be in his early 20’s.
Not done yet, Mgobo people were alleged to have proceeded to launch an attack at the fringe of Bodo, where they destroyed some buildings.
Angered by the killings and spate of attacks, armed youth groups from Bodo yesterday mobilised themselves and invaded Mgobo. In the bitter reprisal attack, The Guardian learnt, seven persons were either shot or macheted to death.
The invaders also set ablaze over 30 houses.
This fierce counter-attack by the Bodo youths, who as at yesterday were still occupying Mgobo, caused the natives to flee to other neighboring communities for safety.
When contacted, The Rivers State Police Public
Relations Officer, DSP (Mrs.) Ireju Barasua confirmed that some persons had been killed and property destroyed but declined to give figures.