Niger Govt Orders Immediate Security Crackdown After Rafi Communal Clash
E-ISSN: 2354-4481
By Grace Chidimma Ibe
Niger State Governor, Rt. Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago, has directed security agencies to immediately strengthen security operations in communities affected by communal clashes in Rafi Local Government Area, ordering decisive measures to restore peace and prevent further breakdown of law and order.
The governor, represented by Deputy Governor Comrade Yakubu Garba, gave the directive during an assessment visit to communities affected by the recent violence involving members of the Kamuku and Fulani communities in Tashar Bako.
Bago ordered the immediate deployment and activation of all available security assets across the affected communities and instructed security agencies to adopt proactive measures to contain the crisis. He stressed the need to combine both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies in addressing the lingering conflict.
Following an on-the-spot assessment of the affected communities and identified flashpoints, the governor disclosed that preliminary findings indicated the crisis stemmed from a farming dispute that began about two months ago.
To promote lasting peace, he directed the Emir of Kagara to establish a Peace and Reconciliation Committee within the emirate to facilitate dialogue and strengthen peaceful coexistence among the affected communities.
The state government also appealed to social media users and influencers to refrain from sharing inflammatory or unverified information capable of escalating tensions.
As part of measures to restore normalcy, Governor Bago approved the imposition of a curfew in the affected communities.
He assured residents that the government would take firm steps to prevent a recurrence of the violence, noting that the Kamuku and Fulani communities had coexisted peacefully for generations. He urged all parties to embrace dialogue and peaceful coexistence.
Speaking during the visit, the Emir of Kagara, Alhaji Ahmed Garba Gunna, commended the state government and security agencies for their swift intervention.
The traditional ruler appealed to residents to remain calm and cooperate with security personnel while cautioning politicians against politicising the incident. He stressed that the conflict should not be interpreted as an ethnic dispute between the Kamuku and Fulani communities.
The Emir also expressed sympathy to victims and called on security agencies to identify, arrest and prosecute those responsible for the violence.
During the visit, the deputy governor met with displaced Kamuku victims taking refuge at Tegina Primary School and Fulani victims sheltering at Gimi Primary School, assuring them of the government's commitment to their safety, welfare and eventual return to their communities.
The assessment tour also took the government delegation to Tashar Bako, the epicentre of the violence, where officials assessed the extent of the destruction and evaluated immediate intervention needs.
