Nigeria: At least eight killed in clashes in Nasarawa Sep. 14

Event

On Friday, September 14, unidentified gunmen attacked the village of Sofiyo, located in the Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa state. According to local sources, at least eight people were killed in the attack, with several more suffering injuries. Local officials have deployed security forces to the area. Nevertheless, additional clashes are possible in the area in the coming days. 

Context

Intercommunal clashes are common in Nigeria, especially between nomadic and settled communities. These kinds of clashes have been known to break out in the central Middle Belt region - e.g. in Plateau, Bauchi, Benue, Kaduna, and Nasarawa states - as well as in the south, where casualties are regularly reported. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom reported that murder rates linked to ethnic violence are higher than those related to terrorism, also a major security concern in the country.

Advice

Generally speaking, the security environment in Nigeria is complex and is particularly concerning in the northeast and extreme south of the country due to the presence of armed groups, high crime rates, and the risk of kidnapping. Some Western governments consequently advise against travel to certain areas of the northeast (e.g. states of Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi, and Jigawa as well as parts of Kano and Adamawa states) and the southern Niger Delta region (e.g. states of Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers). Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel to these areas.