There was tension yesterday in Patigi LGA of Kwara State following a clash between herdsmen and inhabitants of the area.

The incident, Daily Trust learnt, happened at Motokun village when suspected mercenaries allegedly attacked members of the community.

The casualty figure could not be ascertained at press time though the clash reportedly claimed lives in what was termed a reprisal by members of the community.

It was learnt that a Deputy Commissioner of Police hurriedly left Ilorin on the orders of Police Commissioner, Mr. Salihu Garuba, after information filtered in about the clash.

Police spokesman, Mr. Okasanmi Ajayi, who was part of the team that visited Patigi, could not be reached.

Chairman of Patigi Local Government Council, Alhaji Uthman Mohammed Ndako who confirmed the clash to Daily Trust correspondent, said normalcy had returned to the community with the swift intervention of the security agencies.

He said the council as well as the Patigi Emirate Council led by Etsu Patigi, Alhaji Ibrahim Chatta Umar, had called for a meeting of leaders of the herdsmen and elders of the community to stop the recurring confrontation. The clash came weeks after two communities in Kwara South (Eruku and Oro Ago) witnessed a similar crisis.