Death toll in Rafi communal crisis may be higher than police admit

Residents of Tegina District in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State are claiming that more than 30 people have been killed in the renewed communal clashes between Fulani and Kamuku communities. This is far higher than the 18 deaths confirmed by the Niger State Police Command. The violence, which has been intensifying since June 24, has left many victims burnt to death in their homes and thousands displaced into nearby bushes.

Alhaji Isah Tanko Tegina, a resident who spoke with journalists in Minna, accused the federal, state, and local governments as well as traditional institutions of showing insensitivity to the matter. He said the clash is claiming innocent lives daily with no urgent intervention. The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed that joint police and military personnel have been deployed and a reconciliation committee is working to end the crisis, but residents say the situation remains dire.

When will the government and security agencies take this seriously enough to stop the bloodshed before it escalates further?