At least 18 people have been killed, including 15 who were burnt alive, following a violent communal clash triggered by a longstanding land dispute in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State.
The latest violence is regarded as one of the deadliest communal crises recorded in the area in recent months, leaving several families devastated and communities in mourning.
According to the Niger State Police Command, the bloodshed began on June 29 when suspected armed men shot and killed 25-year-old Ibrahim Musa in Godoro village.
Police said the killing was followed by a reprisal attack in which members of a local vigilante group known as Yansakai allegedly blocked a road and killed 28-year-old Bashir Mazi.
The command’s spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, said both incidents were linked to a lingering land dispute between two communities in the area.
The crisis took a more tragic turn on the night of July 1 when suspected attackers stormed Angwan-Baago near Godoro village and set a two-bedroom apartment on fire.
Fifteen people trapped inside the building were burnt alive, while another person was reportedly killed at a different location, bringing the total number of deaths to 18.
A community source, who spoke anonymously over fears of retaliation, alleged that the conflict involved members of the Fulani and Kamuku communities.
The source also claimed that several houses were destroyed during the attacks, with women and children among those most affected by the violence.
Chairman of Rafi Local Government Area, Ayuba Katako, confirmed that the crisis occurred within the council but did not provide an official casualty figure.
Katako said security personnel had been deployed to the affected communities and assured residents that authorities were working to restore peace and bring those responsible to justice.
The police also disclosed that a reconciliation committee led by local government officials had been established to address the underlying causes of the conflict, while joint police and military patrols continue across the affected communities.
Authorities expressed hope that the combined security operations and peace efforts would prevent further reprisals, even as residents of Angwan-Baago and surrounding communities continue to mourn the victims of the deadly violence.
