Water Scarcity Causes Unrest in Kogi Community, as Mangal Cement Company allegedly fails to Honor Community Development Agreement (CDA)
At least six persons have been injured while shops were destroyed after a clash between Hausas and indigenes of Ilughagba Community in Ijumu Local Government Area, Kogi State broke out due to water scarcity.
According to an impeccable source, trouble started on Monday evening at about 6pm when an indigene of Ilughagba was fetching water at the only borehole serving the community when a Hausa man whose identity is yet to be known removed the bucket and put his own.
An eyewitness who identified his name as Bolu Dauda told journalists in a phone interview that the development sparked argument between the duo which escalated, leading to six indigenes being severely injured and are receiving treatment in a yet to be disclosed hospital.
It was gathered that the borehole, which was sunk by a philanthropist and business mogul, Barr. Tunde Ayeni many years ago is the only one serving the already congested community.
According to our source, the management of Mangal Cement company had signed a Community Development Agreement (CDA) to sink 6 boreholes to meet the water needs of Ilughagba community but the cement company is yet to fulfil its part of the agreement.
He noted that the crisis would have been avoided if the boreholes were provided last year but the company has turned deaf ears to the pleas of the people for Mangal to do the needful.
The source also disclosed that part of the CDA signed with the company was provision of scholarships to 10 indigenes, which is also yet to be met.
He called on the state government to wade into the issue by bringing the perpetrators of the dastardly act to book.
As at the time of filing in this reports normalcy has since returned to the community and residence are going about lawful businesses
