Tragedy and Tension in Nasarawa: 11 Dead as Community Clashes and Militia Fears Grip Udege


-By Ruben Mario Brodrick 

​The peaceful landscape of the Udege Development Area in Nasarawa State has been shattered by a wave of violence that has left 11 people dead and over 50 homes reduced to ashes.

What began as a localized dispute between the Akyawa and Udege Kasa communities escalated into a night of terror on Friday, prompting an emergency intervention by the state’s top security officials. Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police, Shetima Jauro Mohammed, visited the charred remains of the settlements on Saturday, confirming the heavy toll of the conflict and vowing that those responsible for the "heinous act" would face the full weight of the law.

​The violence appears to have been sparked by a cycle of retaliation. According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, the early morning assault was likely a reprisal attack following the alleged killing of two individuals earlier in the week.

 While the official police account attributes the carnage to local "hoodlums," a darker narrative is emerging from the residents themselves. Local sources suggest that the communities were actually invaded by suspected Fulani militias—armed bandits who have been terrorizing the region. These witnesses claim the attackers were spotted moving through neighboring villages days before the strike, yet no preventive action was taken to stop the impending slaughter.

​The devastation in Akyawa, where 11 lives were lost and nearly all housing was destroyed, is reportedly part of a larger pattern of insecurity. This latest assault follows a similar raid on the nearby village of Sabon Gida just 48 hours prior. For a region once celebrated for its vibrant mining economy and agricultural productivity, the persistent threat of abduction and arson has brought daily life to a standstill.

 Residents described a climate of absolute fear, noting that families are fleeing their ancestral homes as they can no longer predict which community will be targeted next.

​In response to the crisis, a joint security force comprising the police, military, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has been deployed to the area to maintain a fragile peace. During a stakeholders' meeting held amidst the ruins, CP Mohammed appealed for calm and urged the grieving locals to cooperate with investigators rather than seeking further revenge. 

However, as the new planting season begins, the plea for government intervention remains urgent. For the farmers of Nasarawa, the struggle is no longer just about the harvest, but about surviving long enough to see it.

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