A communal clash has erupted again in Jigawa State, leaving a trail of death and destruction in its wake.

The incident occurred on Thursday night at Gidan Nagari Community of Jahun Local Government, precisely a week after a similar clash in Gululu village, the same area last Friday.

Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with houses set ablaze and people running for their lives.

?We were awoken by the sound of gunfire and screams. We saw people running for their lives, and houses were being set ablaze.? said an eyewitness, who preferred to remain anonymous.

It will be recalled that there were reports that the Jigawa State Police Command on Saturday confirmed that a communal clash in the state on January 3 resulted in the death of nine people, while four others suffered varying degrees of injuries.

According to reports, 10 people have been confirmed dead by medical doctors at Jahun General Hospital, with 9 males and 1 female among the deceased. Some of the victims were burnt beyond recognition.

Another eyewitness, Bala Dan Garba said, as the situation remains tense, residents of the affected communities are calling for calm and restraint.

?We must work together to prevent further violence and ensure that peace is restored to our communities,? said Dan Garba, a resident of the village.

He also hinted to our correspondent that the burial of the victims is currently underway, with mourners gathering to pay their respects to the departed.

A resident of the area, Malam Muhammad Kani said in an exclusive interview with our correspondent that, ?this latest incident has raised concerns about the escalating violence between the two communities.?

?We are calling on the government to take urgent action to address the root causes of this conflict,? said Malam Kani.

He therefore urged the Jigawa State government to take decisive action to prevent further bloodshed and ensure that those responsible for the violence are brought to justice.

When contacted via telephone, this evening, the Jigawa Police spokesman, Superintendent of Police Shi?isu Lawan confirmed the incident saying, the attack was carried out by yet-to-be-identified armed men.

?The state command received a report of the incident which occurred yesterday (Thursday) night at Gidan Nagari village, Jahun local government area,?

?Our men and officers are currently at the scene of the incident and details will be made available later as investigation is ongoing to ascertain the number of lives lost, injured and properties damaged,? he said.

However, sources close to the police confirmed that a team of officers has been deployed to the area to restore peace and order.

Meanwhile, despite the devastating nature of the incident, the Jigawa State government has maintained a deafening silence on the matter.

Up until now, no official statement has been issued by the government to condemn the violence, commiserate with the victims? families, or provide an update on measures being taken to prevent future occurrences in spite of several calls made to the spokesperson of the governor. (The PUNCH)

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