Nasarawa: How communal crisis claimed 11 lives, 52 houses

Fulani and Afo communities in the Udege Development Area of Nasarawa Local Government, Nasarawa State, have recounted their harrowing experiences following a communal clash that left 11 people dead and 52 houses destroyed. The violence, which erupted last Friday between the Akyawa and Udege Kasa communities, forced residents to flee their homes, abandoning farms, livestock, […]

Fulani and Afo communities in the Udege Development Area of Nasarawa Local Government, Nasarawa State, have recounted their harrowing experiences following a communal clash that left 11 people dead and 52 houses destroyed.

The violence, which erupted last Friday between the Akyawa and Udege Kasa communities, forced residents to flee their homes, abandoning farms, livestock, and personal belongings in the chaos.

Police spokesperson in the state, Ramhan Nansel, confirmed the incident, saying the scale of the violence prompted the Commissioner of Police, Shetima Mohammed, to visit the affected communities.

The visit, he said, was aimed at restoring normalcy and preventing further escalation of the crisis.

• Lassa fever: Death toll hits 146 as Bauchi, Taraba top fatality chart
• 10 years after, Kwankwasiyya Mega city unoccupied

“The incident, which occurred in the early hours of the same day, involved hoodlums suspected to have carried out a reprisal attack over the alleged killing of two of their kinsmen.

“In the course of the attack, eleven persons were killed, while about fifty houses were burnt in Akyawa and two houses in Udege Kasa,” Nansel said.

He said security operatives have since been deployed to the area to maintain peace, while efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend those responsible for the attacks.

 

Fulani community counts losses

Hassan Ibrahim, a herder from Anguwan Darius, said he lost two nephews, Salisu Adamu and Salisu Usman, who were killed while harvesting honey in a nearby bush.

“They had finished harvesting and were resting when the attackers came and shot them,” he recounted, his voice heavy with grief.

Ibrahim said the attackers also poisoned seven of his cattle, killing them instantly, and burnt homes in the settlement.

He added that more than 500 bags of assorted grains and other household items were destroyed in the attack.

According to him, several children went missing during the chaos but were later found and taken to the hospital for treatment. Many others sustained injuries of varying degrees.

“We also counted about 15 dead cows apart from sheep, goats, and poultry. The destruction is too much,” he said.

Ibrahim appealed to the government to intervene urgently by restoring security, compensating victims, and creating conditions that would enable displaced persons to return home safely.

“My appeal to the government is to ensure sustainable and permanent peace and help us return to our homes,” he said.

Another herder, Zakari Musa, described the incident as one of the most devastating in recent times. He said many Fulani families have been rendered homeless after their houses were set ablaze.

“Our greatest loss is the loss of human lives and animals. Many families have nothing left,” Musa said, adding that the only option available to them was to report the incident to security agencies.

He called for the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the violence, stressing that justice is critical to preventing future attacks.

“We are appealing to the authorities to ensure the perpetrators are arrested and prosecuted,” he said.

Yahaya Mohammed, another affected herder, pointed to long-standing grievances between the communities, particularly over the destruction of livestock.

“Even before this crisis, our animals have been killed in large numbers. We estimate that over 1,000 have been lost over time,” he alleged.

He said his community has always paid compensation whenever their cattle damaged farmlands but claimed that the same gesture has not been reciprocated.

“In cases where our cattle destroyed crops, we made sure compensation was paid. But when our animals are killed, nothing is done,” he said.

Mohammed said the latest violence claimed the lives of four Fulani members, including a woman, while houses and livestock were destroyed, forcing many to flee.

“The corpses of animals are still scattered across the area. It is a painful sight,” he added.

Despite the tensions, he expressed a desire for peace and coexistence. “We need peace. That is the only thing we want now,” he said.

 

Afo community also hit hard

The Afo community has also suffered significant losses, with several families mourning loved ones killed in the attacks.

Adamu Anda Obagu, a resident, is struggling to come to terms with the death of his 35-year-old son, Atuna Adamu, who was killed while attempting to flee.

“They burnt our houses and killed my son. He left behind three children—two girls and a boy,” Obagu said.

He recalled how gunshots rang out in the early hours, sending residents into panic as they fled in different directions to escape the violence.

“We heard gunshots, and everyone started running for safety. We left everything behind,” he said.

Obagu appealed to the government to intervene and bring an end to the recurring crisis, describing the pain of losing his son as overwhelming.

“If the government intervenes, this matter can be resolved. The pain is too much,” he said.

Another victim, Mohammed Inarigu, said he fled his village after hearing gunshots, only to later discover that his brother and three other men had been killed.

“The attackers killed four men, including my brother, and burnt houses, including that of my cousin. They also took away motorcycles belonging to the victims,” he said.

Inarigu described the incident as shocking and unexpected, adding that the community had not anticipated such a violent escalation.

“We never expected this kind of crisis. It came suddenly,” he said.

He called on the government to mediate between the communities and facilitate reconciliation.

“We are appealing to the government to bring us together for dialogue. We are brothers; we should not be killing each other,” he said.

 

Expert urges holistic approach

Dr Michael Christopher Eraye, from the Department of Criminology at the Federal University of Lafia, stressed the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to address the recurring communal crises in Nasarawa State and beyond.

He attributes the conflicts to unresolved disputes, socioeconomic challenges, and a lack of ethical reorientation among communities.

Dr Eraye noted that unresolved tensions can fuel future violence, citing the recent crisis as an example.

“When massive destruction occurs in a community, deep-seated hatred is often instilled in the minds of the victims.

“Such animosity does not dissipate quickly; it becomes embedded in the collective consciousness of the people,” he said.

Highlighting the role of socioeconomic factors, he explained that unemployment, illiteracy, and marginalisation often exacerbate tensions.

“The current socioeconomic situation can easily trigger conflict. As the saying goes, when a person is hungry, even a small provocation can make them aggressive,” Dr Eraye added.

He stressed the importance of traditional rulers in promoting ethical reorientation and peaceful coexistence.

“Traditional leaders must regularly engage their communities, reminding people to live peacefully with their neighbours, including newcomers,” he said.

Dr Eraye also called on the government to address socioeconomic challenges by creating enabling environments for job opportunities. “Government must tackle these issues directly. Let us see jobs created and opportunities manifested,” he urged.

He also advocated for religious and ethnic tolerance, saying that these values should be championed by religious institutions, traditional authorities, and the National Orientation Agency.

“There is an urgent need for both religious and ethnic tolerance to foster lasting peace among communities,” he added.