Curfew imposed in Niger LGA as farmers-herders conflict kills 50
A curfew has been imposed in Rafi LGA, Niger State, after fighting between farmers and herders escalated, leaving about 50 dead.
Fighting between Kamuku farmers and Fulani herders has escalated to Kagara, the administrative headquarters of the Rafi Local Government Area in Niger State.
Local authorities have imposed a curfew on the town after a mob attempted to invade the Kagara General Hospital to attack herders receiving medical treatment at the facility. The escalation was averted only by the swift intervention of military personnel stationed in the town, who positioned an armoured personnel carrier at the hospital entrance to block the attackers.
The deadly conflict began on Wednesday morning in the neighbouring Tegina district. Machete-wielding herders invaded a Kamuku community, killing dozens of residents, predominantly women, children and the elderly.
The police spokesperson for Niger command, Wasiu Abiodun, estimated the death toll at 18. However, residents said the overall casualty figures from the days of violence have risen to about 50 deaths, with numerous other people injured. Residents shared graphic images showing victims who had been hacked to death or burnt alive.
Beyond the staggering loss of life, the crisis has resulted in massive property destruction, with homes and food storage silos being razed to the ground. Joint police and military patrols have been deployed throughout the Rafi LGA to restore law and order. A government-backed reconciliation committee has been established to engage community leaders from both sides.
This conflict echoes the pattern seen across Nigeria’s Middle Belt over the past decade. Farmers and herders have clashed repeatedly over land, water and grazing routes. The federal government has deployed military forces, established committees and promised solutions. The violence continues.
Residents expressed concern that tension in the council area remains high, with many fleeing their homes for safety.
The winners: none. The losers: the families of the 50 dead, the thousands displaced, and the Nigerian state, which has failed to protect its citizens in yet another local government area.
Bottom Line: Fifty dead. Homes burned. A hospital was attacked. This is not a conflict. This is a humanitarian crisis that the state is losing control of.