No fewer than 11 persons have been confirmed dead following a violent clash between two communities in Nasarawa State on Friday, with at least 52 houses razed in the incident.
The affected communities, Akyawa and Udege Kasa, were thrown into chaos as the violence erupted over what authorities described as a disagreement between residents. However, conflicting accounts from locals suggest the attack may have been carried out by suspected bandits.
According to the Nigeria Police Force, about 50 houses were burnt in Akyawa, while two others were destroyed in Udege Kasa.
Confirming the incident in a statement on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, SP Ramhan Nansel, said the Commissioner of Police, Shetima Mohammed, had visited the affected communities and expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and destruction of property.
He urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information that could aid ongoing investigations.
“In response, the Commissioner of Police has ordered an intensive manhunt for all perpetrators of the heinous act,” the statement read. “Tactical teams and investigative units have been deployed to ensure prompt identification, arrest, and prosecution of those responsible.”
The police also announced the reinforcement of security presence in the area, working in collaboration with the military and other agencies, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, to restore order and prevent further violence.
While authorities insist the situation has been brought under control, unconfirmed reports from residents indicate that the attack may be linked to an earlier incident in nearby Sabon Gida (Gidan Ada Ogiri), where homes and farm produce were also destroyed.
The police, however, maintained that proactive measures have been put in place to prevent any recurrence, assuring residents that normalcy has been restored to the affected communities.
