Paul Orude, Bauchi
The police in Bauchi State has confirmed three persons killed and 18 injured following a violent crisis that erupted in Lushi area of Bauchi Metropolis, late Sunday night.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) DSP Kamal Datti Abubakar, who made the disclosure, said that 75 suspects have been arrested in connection with the crisis.
Abubakar stated that the problem started following a misunderstanding at a birthday party in Kusu area of Sakani which later escalated to other parts of the area.
The cause of the crisis is not ascertain at the time of the report but there were unconfirmed report that two male lovers were fighting over the affection of a women and the birthday party venue became the black spot.
The PPRO disclosed that two houses were set ablaze in the violent clash.
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A resident told our correspondent that some youth in Lushi reportedly exchanged stones and stared setting houses ablaze. The house of a retired superintendent of police was also affected.
Daily Sun learnt that one of those killed was, a civil servant who worked at the Federal Secretariat, Bauchi, who was said to have moved his entire family to a safe location following the tension that developed the area.
He was said to have returned to his house when irate youth killed him and set his house ablaze. The identity of the deceased is yet to be known at the time of filing this report.
Residents of Yelwa Kagadama Lushi, Kusu and High Tension said they heard gunshots from 11:00p.m. till the wee hours while many fled their houses but the police spokesman said he could not confirm the gunshots report.
Residents of the area alleged that the police stormed the area and allegedly breaking into houses and made arbitrary arrests.
But Abubakar told newsmen by telephone that 75 persons were arrested in connection with the crisis and to forestall further break down of law and order.
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He said the situation had been brought under control and that investigation was ongoing to get to the root of the crisis. The PPRO assured that those involved would be brought to book.
Bauchi has experienced some of the worst ethnic religious and political motivated crises which had claimed several lives and destroyed property worth billions of naira, including the 1991 crisis which stalled the National Sports Festival which was being hosted by the state at the time.
The state has also witnessed post election violence in 2011 which claimed several lives 11 serving corps members and the Boko Haram clashes with police on July 2009, which claimed several lives.
