Deadly clash in Nigeria
2005-09-08 14:07
Lagos - Four people were killed in clashes between two rival communities over who should fill a regional council seat in Nigeria's southern Ogoniland, said police and a rights group on Thursday.
Ireju Barasua of police said: "Four people lost their lives in the fracas that arose because of a political misunderstanding between the two communities."
She said the violence erupted between the people of Buateyor-Kaani and Gbor-Kaani over which of them should fill a vacant council seat in the Khana local government area.
A spokesperson for the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), Bariara Kpalap, confirmed the toll.
He said: "I saw four bodies. But many people were injured.
"It is very unfortunate that two neighbours could not resolve a minor disagreement over who should produce a councillor in the local government."
He added that MOSOP was in talks with community leaders to try to reach a truce.
MOSOP was founded in 1990 by late rights activist and writer Ken Saro-Wiwa to fight environmental degradation and oil pollution in the oil-rich Niger delta region.
- SAPA