At least six people have been killed and several others injured in renewed clashes between Fulani herders and Kamuku farmers in Tashan-Rimi, near Godoro village in Rafi Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State. The attacks occurred on Tuesday night, despite efforts by the Niger state government and local authorities to broker peace between the two groups. The violence is a reprisal attack by one of the feuding communities, which has continued despite assurances of measures to be put in place by the state government.
The Niger state government's promises to intervene in the conflict have been met with skepticism, as the community feels that previous promises have not been backed up with action. A committee was set up to investigate the circumstances surrounding the Fulani-Kamuku clashes, but it has been criticized for being ineffective in halting the breaches of peace and preventing further escalation of killings. The committee's efforts have been described as mere words and paperwork.
The Village Head of Tashan-Rimi, Alhaji Garba Mohammed Bissalla, confirmed the renewed hostilities in a telephone interview, stating that six of his subjects were killed by the Fulani herders during the Tuesday midnight attacks. Several others, including a man named Musa Bahago and his son Hamisu Musa, are nursing various degrees of wounds. The community is pleading with the relevant authorities for urgent intervention to prevent further attacks.
The leadership of the Kamuku community has been obeying directives from Governor Mohammed Umar Bago to sheath their swords and give room for peaceful resolution of the crisis. However, the Fulani herders have continued to threaten, kill, and steal domestic animals from the Kamuku people. Alhaji Bissalla lamented that the federal, Niger state, and LGA authorities have abandoned the Kamuku people to their fate and at the mercy of the Fulani herders.
The Kamuku people, who are predominantly farmers, have not benefited from any social amenities for the past 20 years, despite unfulfilled promises by past administrations. The community's leader attributed the recent attacks to an earlier clash that claimed the lives of over 106 people, with one extended family alone losing 45 members. The community is calling for urgent intervention to prevent further attacks and to address the underlying issues driving the conflict.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Niger state Command, SP Wasiu A. Abiodun, said he had not received any official report concerning the recent attacks at the time of filing this report. The lack of official response has raised concerns about the government's ability to effectively address the conflict and protect the affected communities.
The renewed clashes between the Fulani herders and Kamuku farmers have raised concerns about the security situation in Niger State and the need for effective intervention to prevent further violence. The conflict has resulted in significant human suffering, displacement, and loss of livelihoods, highlighting the need for a sustainable solution to the underlying issues driving the conflict.
Key points
- Six people killed in renewed Fulani-Kamuku clashes in Niger State's Rafi LGA.
- Niger state government's promises to intervene in the conflict have been met with skepticism.
- Kamuku community pleading for urgent intervention to prevent further attacks.
