Scores dead, thousands flee from violence in Nigeria

Scores dead, thousands flee from violence in Nigeria

The violence was reportedly fuelled by police arrest late Thursday of some Ombatse militiamen on charges of carrying arms and preparing to attack their rivals. 

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World Bulletin/News Desk

Ethnic violence erupted in the central Nigerian Nassarawa state late on Friday, reportedly claiming many lives and forcing many panicky residents to flee for safety.

The violence, according to eyewitness and police accounts, is between the Eggon youths who constitute the dreadful and outlawed Ombatse militia and Alago youths, both of whom co-habit the Obi local government of Nassarawa, the state closest to the country's seat of power, Abuja.

The violence was reportedly fuelled by police arrest late Thursday of some Ombatse militiamen on charges of carrying arms and preparing to attack their rivals.

"When the police were trying to take the suspects to the Police Headquarters in Lafia, the Ombatse militiamen mobilised and blocked the ever-busy Obi-Lafia road, which prevented the policemen from taking the suspects to the police command on Thursday night," a source who asked not to be named told the Anadolu Agency.

He said the police then returned the suspects to Obi Divisional Police Office till the following morning (Friday).

According to the source, some Alago youths then mobilised and set ablaze the five buses carrying the militiamen.

"The incident infuriated Ombatse militiamen who in turn engaged Alago in free-for–all and conservative figures of casualties should be in the range of 25 persons from both sides," said the source.

Many houses were said to have been razed in Odobu, a village few kilometres to the Obi town, which is inhabited by the Alago tribe, forcing the locals to flee to unknown destination.

Nasarawa State Police Commissioner, Umar Shehu, confirmed the incident, stopping short of confirming the casualty figures.

He said he had deployed his men to the area to halt the violence.

The Eggon youths suspected that the arrest followed a tip off by their rival Alago youths.

Both the Eggon and Alaho ethnic groups had been rivals for ages, occasionally leading to violent clashes.

Trapped

Hundreds of university graduates who are observing the mandatory one-year youths service in the state are also trapped in the ensuing violence.

"Hundreds of our colleagues are trapped in an ethnic violence rocking Obi local government and environs including Lafia, the state capital," Naija Corpers, the official handle of Nigerian students on the mandatory service, tweeted at around 10 p.m. local time.

"We implore all to call for instant intervention of security agents."

In a message to the AA, Copers said he was aware that scores have been killed and many are now fleeing the areas for safety.

Tension still envelopes the communities as at the time of filing this report, and government sources said an emergency security meeting has been convened by the state government to look into the latest crisis.

 The Ombatse militia recently killed no fewer than 40 security agents who had stormed their hideouts to stop forceful initiation of youths into a cult allegedly involved in human rituals.