By MARYAM AHMADU-SUKA

A dispute between youths from Kwaru and Unguwar Yero communities in Kaduna on Wednesday disrupted activities, following the death of a youth allegedly injured in an earlier confrontation.

The incident, which reportedly left some residents injured, caused panic in the communities, with some schoolchildren said to have fled their schools for safety.

A resident of Kwaru, who identified himself as Sule, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the confrontation occurred at about 9 a.m. on Wednesday when youths from the two communities engaged in stone-throwing.

He said the latest violence was allegedly triggered by attempts by some friends of the deceased youth from Unguwar Yero to retaliate over his death.

According to him, the deceased was among three persons injured during a disagreement between youths from the communities about a week ago.

“After the children had gone to school, we started hearing noise. When I came out, I saw people gathering, while some were throwing stones at one another.

“The confrontation involved youths from Unguwar Yero and some residents of Kwaru who had gone to the cemetery,” he said.

Sule expressed concern over the recurrence of disagreements between the communities, noting that similar incidents had occurred in the past before peace was restored.

He, however, confirmed the deployment of security personnel, including operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), police and Mobile Police, to prevent further escalation.

Another resident, Mohammed, attributed the recurring tensions to disagreements among young people, warning against attempts to give such disputes ethnic or religious interpretations.

He said many of the youths were friends who regularly interacted, adding that it was unfortunate that personal disagreements were sometimes exploited to create divisions along religious and ethnic lines.

“They are youths who are friends, but whenever there is a disagreement among them, some people try to turn it into an ethnic or religious issue. That is not right,” he said.

A teacher in the area, Bashir, also confirmed that three youths were injured in the earlier confrontation, with one subsequently dying from his injuries.

Bashir said normal activities were gradually returning to the communities following the intervention of security agencies.

NAN gathered that the tension had threatened to spread to neighbouring communities before security operatives intervened.

When contacted, the Kaduna State Police Command’s spokesperson, DSP Mansir Hassan, confirmed the incident, saying security personnel had been deployed to restore order.

“The situation is under control following a massive deployment of security personnel to the communities,” he said.

Hassan declined further comments on the incident. (NAN)