By: Uthman Baba-Sirajdeen
Two communities in Niger State are at dagger drawn.
The communities, Washi and kashikoko both in Lavun Local Government Area of the State .
This has led to a petition by Washe Community claiming the incessant attacks, assault and destruction of farmland by the Kashikoko Community .
Petitioning the Commissioner of Police in Niger State Mr. Ebenezer Shawulu , Danmaman, a Minna based Legal practitioner, Barrister Ibrahim Angulu stated that the incessant attacks, assault and destruction of farmland of Washi Community is a thing of concern.
In a petition Forwarded to the Commissioner of police and made available to Journalists in Minna , he decried the unwholesome and extreme violence, assault, threat to life destruction of valuable properties and farmland as well as fish ponds belonging to law abiding people of Washi by people of Kashikoko Community also of Lavun Local Government.
According to petition the people of Kashikoko Community have severally subjected the Washi Community to unprecedented and unwholesome and forcefully removed and stealing of their farm produce and water pumping machine for unknown reason.
The legal practitioner alleged that the people of Kashikoko, in one of their attack on the people of Washi some times in November 2022 for no reason or justification while on their respective rice farm, notice the presence of some group of youths suspected to be from Kashikoko Community on their rice farm.
He said that Washi Community never knew that Kashikoko had an ulterior mission or intention even as they exchange pleasantries as couetsy demand, not until it turned to be a surprise visit as the group of youths began to harvest which was never theirs in the presence of the owners .
The perpetrator of this action, according to the legal practitioner included Nmadu Yisa, Yunusa yaabdani, Yanma Koko,. Nda Isah, Ya Gozan Ladan, Babayi Aliyu, Yanda Abu, Kuta Yakolo Gidigi, Alhaji Judy Koko (Village head) among other Community of Kashikoko.
He further alleged that they extended their violence in 2023 as they armed themselves with machetes, Cutlasses, dane guns, sticks and carted away over eighty (80) bags of harvested paddy rice together with two pumping machines, including five bag fertilizer four inches pumping machines among other iterms value worth ten Million naira.
Following the violence attack on the Washi Community by the suspects earlier mentioned it Claimed the life of Adam Zabokun six suspects were arrested and we’re taken to state criminal Investigation department of the Niger state police command .
Three of the arrested suspects were released for reason yet to be known by Washi Community while three others were charged to court and many. others are still on the run
As a result of the violence attack unleashed on the Washi Community by Kashikoko youths according to the legal practitioner, the commissioner of police in Niger State and other security agencies in the state to safeguard the people of Washi Community from the incessant violence attack by Kashikoko Community.
