No fewer than four people including son of a traditional ruler were feared dead following a violent clash between two groups in Bauchi during the Sallah velebration.
Many other people were variously injured following attacks by the rival groups who wielded dangerous weapons including Dane guns, cutlasses, daggers, and other sharp weapons.
The two groups were Yan Ba Beli, an armed group that is assisting in fighting bandits, and a group of hunters who were part of the entourage of the District Head of Miri in Bauchi LGA.
Reliable source told Tribune Online that the clash occurred on the second day of the Sallah during the traditional homage to the Government House by the Emir of Bauchi escorted by all District Heads and other traditional title holders in the Emirate.
The source revealed that the District Head had mobilized his subjects particularly horse riders on the trip to the Palace of the Emir of Bauchi to join the procession to the Government House when the incident happened.
It was said that the Yan Ba Beli interrupted the procession for no just reason and started hitting some of the horse riders with sticks a move that did not go down well with the entourage of the traditional ruler.
It was further gathered that the hunters in the entourage of the District Head responded by shooting their dane guns into the air and in the process, hit two members of the Yan Ba Beli who also responded.
In the melee that ensued, the son of the District Head was said to have been hit by a sharp object which inflicted a serious injury on his head leading to his death.
Reports further revealed that many others were variously injured before Security operatives arrived the scene to end the clash and arrested a few of the suspects.
All efforts to get official confirmation and reactions from the State Police Command proved abortive as the PPRO, SP Ahmed Wakili neither responded to the SMS and WhatsApp messages sent to his mobile number as early as 10 am on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Bauchi State Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir on Saturday evening, paid a condolence visit to the Palace of the District Head of Miri, Mal Hussaini Abubakar over the death of his son, Muhammadu Ghani.
The Governor who expressed sadness over the unfortunate incident said that investigation is ongoing to unravel and circumstances leading to the death of the young man.
The Governor led other top Government Officials on the condolence describing the incident as very unfortunate to have happened on a day when people were rejoicing over the successful completion of the 30 days Ramadan fasting.
A visibly worried Bala Mohammed said that he has directed the State Police Command and other security agencies to as a matter of urgency, conduct a thorough investigation and to bring all those involved to justice.
The Governor vowed that nobody implicated in the criminal act would be allowed to go freely without facing justice.
He then prayed for the repose of his soul in Aljanat Firdausi urging the family to accept it as act of Allah just as he also prayed for fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss.
In his response, District Head of Miri, Mal Hussaini Abubakar appreciated the Governor for his concern urging that discreet investigation should be conducted to fish out those who carried out the killing of his son.
