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Gunmen attacked Kunza in the Ashigye community of Lafia Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, on Tuesday night, killing three people and injuring several others.
The community, which lies along the Lafia–Shendam federal highway, is about 50 kilometres from Lafia, the state capital.
Multiple sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attack occurred around 10 p.m. They linked the violence to a lingering crisis between Fulani herdsmen and the host community, which reportedly led to killings on both sides last year.
The sources also pointed to an incident last Sunday in which two Fulani herdsmen were allegedly ambushed near a bridge close to the Akunza–Ashigye community, with one of them reportedly killed.
According to the accounts, a Fulani man claimed to have identified one of the attackers, described as having dreadlocks, and concluded that the assailants were from the Akunza–Ashigye community. This allegation was said to have triggered the retaliatory attack.
The Migili people, the ethnic group predominantly living in the area, confirmed the attack and condemned it.
The President of the Migili Youth Association, Sheh Oli Christopher, described the incident as “barbaric and reprehensible.” He expressed concern over recurring insecurity in the area, noting that residents—particularly women, children and the elderly—now live in fear.
Christopher urged the state government to deploy adequate security personnel to vulnerable communities and ensure justice for the victims.
He also called for the arrest and prosecution of those responsible, describing the attack as a “grave threat to peace” and an affront to humanity.
However, the Nasarawa State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Bala Dabo, denied allegations that Fulani herdsmen were responsible for the attack on Kunza.
Dabo acknowledged that an attack occurred but said there was no evidence linking Fulani herdsmen to the incident. He alleged instead that some ethnic groups in the area blocked roads and targeted Fulani individuals, accusing them of involvement in the violence.
According to him, investigations showed that three Fulani were attacked on a market day, with one killed, but the victims’ family did not identify any attackers or link the incident to the community.
“The family of the victims confirmed to us that they did not identify anybody as an attacker. They only attributed it to armed robbers,” Dabo said.
He condemned the attack, sympathised with the affected community, and urged security agencies to thoroughly investigate the incident and prosecute the perpetrators, warning against individuals taking the law into their own hands.
Meanwhile, the Nasarawa State Police Command confirmed the attack on Kunza Ashigye village, stating that three people were killed and nine others injured.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Shetima Jauro Mohammed, ordered a comprehensive investigation into the incident and deployed tactical teams to the area.
In a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, Ramhan Nansel, the police commissioner extended condolences to the families of the victims and assured residents that those responsible would be brought to justice.
The police also urged members of the public to remain calm and provide useful information to aid ongoing investigations.
