10 Killed As Soldiers, Fundamentalists Clash In Kogi

SAN FRANCISCO, October 13, (THEWILL) – A bloody clash between an Islamic sect and men of the Nigerian Army, Tuesday, in Okene, near Lokoja in Kogi State claimed the lives of 10 fundamentalists.

Some soldiers, who also sustained serious wounds in the clash, were taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja for treatment.

Trouble started in the town when soldiers acting on information stormed a mosque located on Inike Street in Okene to dislodge the sect members.

The soldiers were said to be responding to a distress call that the fundamentalists were using the mosque to hide guns and other sophisticated weapons.

The soldiers were said to have obtained useful information from two members of the sect, who were arrested during a gun attack at the Lokoja office of the State Security Service on Sept. 25.

While filing this report Tuesday, Inike Street was said to be calm with residents refusing to come out of their houses because of fear.

When asked to confirm the development, the Public Relations Officer of the Kogi State Police Command, Mr. William Aya, said the operation was “a purely military affair.”

Also, the Commander of the Nigerian Army Records Command in Lokoja could not be reached for comments.