What would have resulted in a bloody religious clash in a community in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State was averted recently, following the quick intervention of a Muslim cleric and the Chief Imam of Abocho Central Mosque, Suleiman Dansofo.
Though there is still tension in the community where a woman was allegedly assaulted by some masquerades and being hospitalised.
According to reports, the woman, Malama Marian Aye, clad in hijab, was allegedly attacked while on transit from Odu-Anana on commercial motorcycle in Odu-Okpakili-Ate by the masquerades who were said to have beaten her into coma on 5th April.
It was said that the cyclist and his passenger unknowingly ran into a masquerade procession organised by a known thug leader in the area.
The custodian of the masquerades was said to have disembarked the lady, while the others mercilessly beat her to stupor, leaving the cyclist unhurt. She was said to have been rushed to a private clinic in the neighbouring Odu-Ogboyaga for medical attention and later moved to another clinic in Ajiolo-Akabe.
The victim’s husband, Suleiman Usman while speaking with newsmen on Friday said the wife’s condition was deteriorating.
“She has not been able to move her right leg and hand since yesterday, even as the pain in the head where she was clubbed is still unbearable,” he lamented.
The husband said he intended to move his wife to a bigger facility but has not been able to raise enough money to do so. He therefore appealed to public spirited individuals to assist the victim so that she can receive the better treatment, saying “it is obvious that the clinic which she is receiving treatment currently cannot handle the emerging complications.”
The husband said although he reported the matter to the police, the perpetrators still walk around free.
The incident almost degenerated into religious crisis as Muslim youths, irked by the development, had mobilised for a showdown before the attention of the State chairman, National Council of Muslim Youth Organization (NACOMYO), Malam Suleiman Dansofo, who is also the Chief Imam of Abocho Central Mosque was drawn to the impending altercation.
Dansofo told journalists on Friday that “I had to put a call to the Senior Special Assistant on Security to Governor Yahaya Bello, Prince Ishaq Shaibu Okolo, who immediately swung into action by personally leading soldiers to the area and appeal for calm, promising to unravel the matter with a view to dealing with the perpetrators.”
However, the State Police Command through the spokesman, DSP William Aya said the division in the area was yet to get a formal report on the development.
