…As South Sudan community clashes leave 22 dead***

The Police Command in Nasarawa State has confirmed the killing of Mr Dennis Onoja, an official of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) by unknown persons in Lafia.

ASP Usman Samaila, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, confirmed the incident to the newsmen on Thursday in Lafia.

Samaila said that the incident happened in the early hours of Wednesday at the deceased residence in Tudun-Kauri axis of Lafia metropolis.

According to him, it was raining at the time of the incident while the victim’s power generating set was on and the noise made it impossible for his neighbours to know what was happening.

He said that one of the neighbours went to charge the battery of his mobile phone in the victim’s apartment when he saw his lifeless body in his room.

The command’s spokesman said the neighbor had knocked on the door repeatedly without any response.

“The neighbour decided to peep through the window and saw the victim in the pool of his blood.

“He alerted the victim’s colleagues who came to the scene and reported the incident to the police,” Samaila said.

The PPRO said there were machete cuts on the victim’s body and obvious signs of struggle in his apartment.

He said that the police, in collaboration with the NDLEA, have commenced investigation with a view to bringing the perpetrators to book.

Samaila said that the remains of the victim have been deposited at the morgue of Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital in Lafia.

In the meantime, at least 22 people have been killed following rival community clashes over cattle raids between two border regions in northern South Sudan.

Michael Mayout, the information minister in Twic region bordering Northern Liech region told Xinhua on Thursday.

He said that the clashes on Tuesday between youths from the two areas over cattle rustling also left a soldier dead.

The clashes in the county of Turalei also left 18 others injured and 3,000 heads of cattle looted, Mayout said through phone.

“The clashes broke out early on Tuesday and the fighting continued until late evening when soldiers were deployed to intervene,’’ he added.

South Sudan community clashes which often involved looting of cattle, abduction of children and women have led to deaths of thousands across the country.