By Desire Emmanuel
The verbal exchange among some youths on the social media platform known as TikTok has led to violence and destruction of properties in a community in Katsina State.
According to reports, a violent clash involving local youths erupted on Tuesday afternoon in Dutsin-Ma town, Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area of Katsina State, causing some residents to sustain varying degrees of injuries and leading to destruction of properties.
It was gathered that armed youths stormed the Tafkin Alkali area of the town, attacking anyone on sight and this resulted in injuries to residents, including a married woman and led to the destruction of shops, kiosks and other various means of livelihood.
Sources close to the local government area told Impact Nigeria News Online on Wednesday, January 21, that some of the youths involved in the violence reside in the southern part of Nigeria, but they are all natives of Dutsin-Ma.
The source added that the violence stemmed from a verbal exchange that began on TikTok between two rival youth groups, one of which is associated with patronising criminals hideouts known for drinking and smoking illicit substances within Dutsin-Ma.
The youths that were living in the southern part of the country were said to have threatened to deal with the youths living in the town whenever they returned home.
They were said to have gathered where they were living in one of the unnamed states in the south, boarded a vehicle to Dutsin-Ma and on Tuesday, launched the attack, which escalated beyond those directly involved, affecting innocent residents.
It was gathered that authorities of the local government invited security operatives during the encounter but it was unclear how many persons were arrested in connection with the clash.
Also, the local government area issued a statement on Wednesday, condemning the incident and assuring the residents that all hands are on deck to bring perpetrators to justice.
“Authorities also called on parents and guardians to take greater responsibility in monitoring their children’s behaviour and preventing them from peer groups and exposure to harmful influences, including drug abuse, which often fuels criminal activity,” the local government said in the statement.
