At least eleven people have been confirmed dead and more than 50 houses destroyed following a violent attack on communities in Nasarawa State in the early hours of Friday.
The assault, reportedly carried out by suspected hoodlums, is believed to be a reprisal over the alleged killing of two individuals said to be from the attackers’ group.
According to initial reports, the violence affected Akyawa community most severely, where about 50 houses were burnt.
Two additional homes were also set ablaze in Udege Kasa during the attack.
Police authorities in the state have condemned the incident.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, CP Shetima Mohammed, visited the affected communities and expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy.
The Commissioner assured residents that those responsible would be brought to justice.
He also extended condolences to the bereaved families and the wider community, reiterating the Command’s commitment to ensuring accountability.
“In response, the Police Commissioner has ordered an intensive manhunt for all perpetrators of the heinous act,” the statement said, noting that tactical teams and investigative units have been mobilised to identify, arrest, and prosecute those involved.
To forestall further violence, security has been reinforced in the area.
The police, working in collaboration with the military and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), have increased deployments to restore calm and maintain order.
During his visit, CP Mohammed also held a stakeholders’ meeting with community members, urging them to remain calm, obey the law, and cooperate with security agencies by providing useful information to aid ongoing investigations.
The command said normalcy has been restored in the affected communities, with proactive measures in place to prevent a recurrence of such attacks.
The incident comes amid growing security concerns in parts of the country.
It followed a recent attack in Plateau State on March 29, where gunmen opened fire at a busy junction in Jos, killing at least 28 people, including students and staff of the University of Jos.
