Clash over graveyard access leaves several injured in Kaduna

A dispute over access to a graveyard on Monday escalated into violent clashes in Kaduna South, Kaduna State, leaving several people injured and two houses burnt.

According to security sources, a distress call at about 9:00 a.m. reported that youths from Makera Village went to Ungwan Mission to clear overgrown bushes at an abandoned Muslim graveyard, intending to reopen it.

During the cleanup, a youth from Ungwan Mission was allegedly blocked from passing through the site. He reportedly rallied others from his community, leading to a confrontation with those working on the graveyard.

The situation quickly turned into a free-for-all fight, with several participants sustaining injuries and rushed to nearby hospitals. In the chaos, two houses in Ungwan Mission were set ablaze. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported.

In response, the Kaduna State Government convened an emergency stakeholders’ meeting, led by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly. Attendees included the Commissioner for Internal Security, representatives of the police, military, and Department of State Services (DSS), as well as chairmen of Kaduna South and Chikun Local Government Areas, leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), youth leaders, and other community stakeholders.

Security agencies said they were working to identify and apprehend those involved in the violence, while additional measures have been put in place to prevent further unrest in the area.
Clash Over Graveyard Access Leaves Several Injured in Kaduna

By Zagazola Makama

A dispute over access to a graveyard on Monday escalated into violent clashes in Kaduna South, Kaduna State, leaving several people injured and two houses burnt.

According to security sources, a distress call around 9:00 a.m. reported that youths from Makera Village went to Ungwan Mission to clear overgrown bushes at an abandoned Muslim graveyard, intending to reopen it.

During the cleanup, a youth from Ungwan Mission was allegedly blocked from passing through the site. He reportedly rallied others from his community, leading to a confrontation with those working on the graveyard.

The situation quickly turned into a free-for-all fight, with several participants sustaining injuries and rushed to nearby hospitals. In the chaos, two houses in Ungwan Mission were set ablaze. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported.

In response, the Kaduna State Government convened an emergency stakeholders’ meeting, led by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly. Attendees included the Commissioner for Internal Security, representatives of the police, military, and Department of State Services (DSS), as well as chairmen of Kaduna South and Chikun Local Government Areas, leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), youth leaders, and other community stakeholders.

Security agencies said they were working to identify and apprehend those involved in the violence, while additional measures have been put in place to prevent further unrest in the area.