Fresh violence has erupted in Nasarawa State as renewed clashes between Akyawa and Udege Kasa communities in Udege Development Area of Nasarawa Local Government Area have left 11 people dead and dozens of homes destroyed.
The Nasarawa State Police Command confirmed the incident, which occurred in the early hours of Friday, attributing it to a reprisal attack by suspected hoodlums following the alleged killing of two individuals.
In a statement issued in Lafia on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, disclosed that about 50 houses were razed in Akyawa, while two others were burnt in Udege Kasa during the attack.
The Commissioner of Police, Shetima Jauro Mohammed, who visited the affected communities on April 3, 2026, expressed deep sorrow over the killings and destruction, assuring residents that justice would be served. He also commiserated with the families of the victims and pledged the command’s commitment to restoring peace.
According to the police, a full-scale manhunt has been launched for those responsible, with tactical teams and investigative units deployed to ensure their arrest and prosecution. Security presence has also been reinforced in the area, in collaboration with the military and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, to prevent further breakdown of law and order.
Nansel added that a stakeholders’ meeting was convened during the visit, where residents were urged to remain calm, law-abiding, and support security agencies with credible information.
While the police maintain that normalcy has been restored, residents and local sources paint a more troubling picture, alleging that suspected Fulani militias carried out coordinated attacks on the communities late Thursday night.
The latest violence is believed to be linked to an earlier attack on nearby Sabon Gida (Gidan Ada Ogiri), where homes, farm produce, and other valuables were destroyed just days earlier.
Residents say the recurring attacks have heightened fear across neighbouring communities, with many fleeing their homes amid uncertainty over possible future assaults.
“It is becoming unbearable. They abduct at will and now invade entire communities unchecked. People are living in fear,” a resident lamented.
The affected communities, once known for thriving mining activities and a vibrant local economy, have recently suffered repeated security breaches linked to suspected bandit groups.
Community members are now calling on the Nasarawa State Government to take urgent and decisive action to curb the violence, especially as farmers begin planting for the new season under the shadow of insecurity.
