At least 48 people have reportedly been killed after a violent clash between members of the Fulani and Kamuku communities in Tegina, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, triggering fresh displacement and raising renewed concerns over communal violence in the region.
No fewer than 48 people are feared dead following a deadly clash involving members of the Fulani and Kamuku ethnic groups in Tegina, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State. The violence, which erupted on Wednesday, also forced many residents to flee their homes as security concerns intensified across the area.
Residents said the violence began when armed attackers invaded a Kamuku community in the early hours of Wednesday, killing dozens of people, including women, children and elderly residents.
According to local accounts, the attack was followed by a reprisal in which several Fulani herders were also killed, pushing the reported death toll to at least 48. Many homes were destroyed, while survivors fled to safer locations within Tegina and neighbouring communities.
Tegina and surrounding communities in Rafi Local Government Area have experienced repeated outbreaks of violence in recent years, including attacks linked to communal tensions, banditry and kidnappings.
The latest killings are expected to heighten concerns over security in the area, which has previously witnessed mass abductions and recurring attacks on rural communities.
As of the latest reports, security agencies had been deployed to the affected communities to restore calm and prevent further violence.
Authorities were also said to be assessing the situation, while efforts continued to verify the casualty figures and provide humanitarian assistance to displaced residents.
The latest bloodshed underscores the persistent security challenges facing parts of Niger State and Nigeria’s North-Central region. Residents are calling for increased security presence and lasting measures to prevent further communal violence as authorities continue investigations into the incident.
