Africa-Press – Nigeria. Violence has resulted in the deaths of nearly 20 individuals in the village of Kokoli, located in the Borgu electoral district of Niger State, central-west Nigeria. Hundreds of residents were forced to flee and hide following the attack.
A local resident stated that the attackers belong to two ethnic groups, the Kamberi and the Fulani, noting that the violence has led to dozens of fatalities, alongside the displacement of hundreds of residents from their homes.
Jafar Mohammed, a member of parliament for the area, confirmed that the clashes are of a sectarian nature, stating that “these crimes were committed by local militias,” and indicated the involvement of several ethnic groups in the violence.
This rural area near the border with Benin has been experiencing ongoing security deterioration, with repeated attacks by armed groups known as “bandits,” who engage in cattle rustling, property theft, and kidnapping of residents.
In addition to bandit attacks, the region faces threats from armed groups employing similar tactics, complicating the security situation and increasing the risks faced by local communities.
Jafar Mohammed believes that the security response to the escalating deterioration remains insufficient to ensure the protection of residents, urging authorities to deploy larger numbers of armed forces and enhance their capabilities to more effectively address the violence and protect affected communities.
