Fighting between Fulani herdsmen and farmers from the Eggon ethnic group has left at least 60 people dead in Nasarawa, mostly from machete cuts, police said on Thursday.
The clashes broke out on Wednesday in Nasawrawa state, a week after some Eggon villagers accused Fulanis of stealing cattle, Nasarawa police spokesman Umaru Ismaila said by telephone.
“The report we have is 60 dead from the clash in Tudun-Ababu village,” he said. “Some bodies were burned beyond recognition.”
Hundreds have been killed in the past year in clashes pitting the semi-nomadic, cattle-herding Fulani people against settled communities that practice a mix of farming and cattle rearing, driven mostly by disputes over land use.
Former president Olusegun Obasanjo met with President Goodluck Jonathan Tuesday at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa where the two discussed the nation’s security challenge.
Obasanjo confirmed the meeting to journalists in Abeokuta, Ogun State, when he returned from Abuja.
“Yes, I can confirm that I met with Mr. President on his invitation. In fact, he had wanted to come down to Abeokuta, but as a sign of respect to the Office of the President, I had to go. We had discussion on the country’s security issues and that is all,” the ex-President said.
On the recurrent Eggon/Fulani crisis in Nassarawa State, Obasanjo called on Benue and Nassarawa state governments to ensure that peace was restored to the warring communities.
“There is no way such will not happen, but the two state governments should come up with lasting solutions. The farmers would want their crops to be protected, while the cattle men will also want their cattle to feed. So, the government should fashion out peaceful means to end the crisis,” he said.
Stay tuned!