The Niger State Police Command has confirmed the killing of 18 persons during a violent clash between farmers and herders across various communities in the Rafi Local Government Area of the state. The affected areas include Anguwan-Baago, Kuwan-Kasa, Mararraban-Gwadaro, and Tashan-Bako. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed in a statement on Thursday that 15 of the victims were burnt alive inside their rooms at Anguwan-Baago. According to the police, the crisis commenced on June 29 and escalated on Wednesday, July 1, following a series of reprisal attacks by the warring groups.
Trouble was said to have started on June 29 when suspected armed men shot and killed a 25-year-old man identified as Ibrahim Musa in Godoro village. In a swift retaliation, members of a local vigilante group popularly known as Yansakai allegedly blocked a highway and killed a 28-year-old man named Bashir Mazi. The police spokesperson explained that the violence, which is believed to be rooted in a lingering land dispute between two communities, subsequently spread to other neighbouring villages.
Detailing the casualties, Abiodun said, “On July 1 at about 10 pm, a report was received that 15 persons were burnt to death in a two-bedroom apartment at Anguwan-Baago via Godoro village, while one other person was killed at another location, bringing the death toll to 18,” The police image maker stated that a reconciliation committee led by officials of the local government council was already working in synergy with security agencies to resolve the crisis. He further noted that a joint security team comprising the police and the military had been deployed to the troubled communities to restore law and order.
However, local residents have disputed the casualty figures presented by the police, insisting that the death toll could be significantly higher as the violence persisted into Thursday. A community leader stated that the Tashan-Bako community was completely razed on Thursday afternoon, with additional lives reportedly lost in the onslaught. The community leader said, “I cannot lie to you. Tashan-Bako was completely burnt today, and more people are still being killed. The affected areas are inaccessible, so nobody can determine the actual number of those killed or injured,”
The community leader further alleged that no security personnel had arrived in the affected areas contrary to the claims made by the police command. He added that the development had forced many residents, including women and children, to flee their homes to seek refuge in Tegina, Maikujeri, Pandogari, Kagara, and other neighbouring communities. Corroborating the claim, another resident stated that more than 30 people were burnt to death in their homes while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries. The resident blamed the authorities for failing to take prompt action to prevent the situation from escalating.
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