ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- In the latest outbreak of herder violence in Plateau State, Nigeria, at least 30 lives were claimed despite the enforcement of a 24-hour curfew in Mangu local district.
Troops from Operation Safe Haven successfully apprehended the attackers wreaking havoc in Kerang Mangu, recovering a substantial cache of weapons.
The persistent intercommunal conflict stems from longstanding tensions over land between nomadic herders and indigenous farmers.
The clashes, characterized by a history of animosity between Muslim herders and Christian farming communities, have plagued Plateau State for years.
Despite the curfew imposed on Tuesday, schools, places of worship, and residences have become targets for destruction in subsequent attacks, according to community leaders.
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The Mwaghavul Development Association, representing predominantly Christian ethnic Mwaghavul people, attributed the violence to Fulani Muslim herders who allegedly attacked Kwahaslalek village, resulting in an estimated 30 casualties.
Expressing their plight, the association stated, “At the moment, our people are left at the mercy of God and can only do so much in self-defense.”
The reported death toll was corroborated by a local rescue official and a source from an aid group operating on the ground, who disclosed that over 100 individuals had sustained injuries. Security personnel are yet to comment on the confirmed casualties from the recent assaults.
In response to the crisis, two displacement camps, accommodating around 1,500 people, have been established in Mangu town, as reported by Nurudeen Husaini Magaji, the local chairman of Nigeria Red Cross.
The curfew was declared on Tuesday by the Governor of Plateau State Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, following a clash attributed to a dispute between a herder and other residents along a road, emphasizing the escalating tensions in the region.