Four persons have been confirmed killed and many others wounded as the religious crisis that erupted on Sunday in Kachia town in Kaduna State escalated yesterday.

Chairman of Kachia Local Government Area, Hon. Peter Agaite, confirmed the casualties. He said that two of the victims were coming back from their place of businesses when they were ambushed by hoodlums, while the other two were said to be shot and killed by the security operatives, who were on patrol for violating the curfew.

“I can confirm to you that four bodies have already been recovered and confirmed dead as aftermath of the crises that engulfed Kachia town yesterday. The two bodies were identified as neighbours who were coming from their place of business but were attacked by hoodlums; the other two were said to have been shot, while trying to loot a shop in the town by the security agents,” Hon. Agaite told Peoples Daily.

“The first two dead bodies were found in Gumel, while the other was found in the shopping mall inside the town. I cannot tell you whether that is all the causalities, but these were the ones that we were able to recover,” the LG Chairman added.

He, however, assured that calm has returned to the town as security personnel from the Nigerian Police, Nigerian Army and the civil Defence Corps are conducting a 24-hour patrol of the town, to ensure that peace finally returns back to the town.

“The 24 hours curfew is still in place and, so, nobody should jeopardise their lives by coming out of their house or roaming around the streets as security personnel are over the place. I beg my people to please allow peace to reign, as the government is doing everything to address their grievances,” Hon. Agaite said.

As reported Sunday by News Express, the trouble arose when some Muslim youths, suspecting Christians of being behind the encroachment on their prayer ground and destruction of the fence, retaliated by destroying a nearby church. This only worsened the crisis as Christian youths fought back by burning the mosques in the community.

•Photo shows soldiers on peace mission in a troubled Nigerian community.