Tegina clashes claim eight lives in Niger State as violence between Fulani and Kamuku groups triggers curfew and security deployment

At least eight people have been killed in Tegina, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, following violent clashes between members of the Fulani and Kamuku ethnic groups, prompting security authorities to impose a curfew and deploy military personnel to restore order.

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The violence erupted days after Senator Sani Musa reportedly made a monetary donation to members of the Fulani community through their leader, Mohammed Shehu.

Residents said the crisis escalated on Friday when armed herders allegedly attacked members of a local vigilante group at the weekly market in Tegina.

According to eyewitness accounts, the attackers accused the vigilantes of being responsible for the death of Mohammed Shehu, who had reportedly coordinated the distribution of funds donated to the community.

A resident, Garba AP, said tensions flared after Shehu’s body was discovered near a vigilante office largely occupied by members of the Kamuku ethnic group.

“The lawmaker donated ₦10 million to the Fulani community in Tegina through their leader, Mohammed Shehu. However, Shehu was later killed,” the resident said.

Garba AP alleged that members of the Fulani community believed the killing was linked to the money and subsequently launched retaliatory attacks against people of Kamuku extraction.

“On Friday, Fulani herders invaded the local market, attacking vigilantes and disrupting trading. Eight bodies from both sides have been buried,” he added.

Authorities swiftly imposed a curfew across the town and deployed soldiers alongside police officers in an effort to contain the unrest.

Despite the intervention, residents reported sporadic confrontations on the outskirts of the community after restrictions were partially relaxed on Saturday.

Efforts to obtain comments from Sani Musa were unsuccessful, as calls and messages sent to the lawmaker were not answered.

Confirming the incident, Niger State Police Command spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, said eight people lost their lives during the violence.

“There was a reported clash between some Fulani persons and vigilante men in Tegina over a suspected homicide of one Mohammed Shehu of Gimi village, and his motorcycle was taken away,” Wasiu Abiodun said.

“Unfortunately, about eight people lost their lives as a result of the clash. After police and military personnel were deployed to the area, normalcy was restored, and efforts to arrest perpetrators are ongoing.”

Police said a key suspect linked to the killing of Mohammed Shehu remains at large, while investigations continue.

The Tegina Clashes have renewed concerns over security and communal relations in a town that has frequently found itself at the centre of violence in Nigeria’s North-Central region.

Tegina has suffered repeated attacks by armed bandits in recent years, including the abduction of 136 pupils from Salihu Tanko Islamiyya School in 2021.

The nearby town of Kagara also witnessed the kidnapping of 27 students from Government Science College earlier that year.

Although Fulani herders and Kamuku farming communities have historically maintained cooperative relations, years of banditry, cattle rustling and kidnapping have strained those ties.

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Security analysts say the continued presence of criminal groups in the region has deepened mistrust among communities, increasing the risk that local disputes could rapidly develop into deadly confrontations.