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The death toll from the communal clash involving Kambari, Fulani and Bargawa communities in Agwara and Borgu Local Government Areas of Niger State has risen to about 30, as religious leaders intensify calls for peace.
The violence, reportedly sparked by a dispute over land, has left scores dead, destroyed property and displaced an unspecified number of residents, heightening fears of further escalation in the affected communities.
The Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese and Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger State, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, has appealed to the warring groups to end the violence and embrace dialogue.
In a statement titled "Message of Peace and Unity," the cleric urged members of the Kambari, Fulani and Bargawa communities to lay down their arms and allow the government and security agencies to address their grievances.
He warned against taking the law into their own hands, stressing that continued reprisals would only worsen the humanitarian situation.
"As a major stakeholder and one who would choose peace and togetherness over crisis, I strongly appeal to all the tribes, including Kambari, Fulani and Bargawa, to remain calm and stop the fighting and killing," he said.
Bishop Yohanna noted that the affected communities had lived together peacefully for decades and attributed the renewed violence partly to the activities of criminal elements who allegedly infiltrated the area from neighbouring countries.
He urged residents not to allow such individuals to sow division and destroy the long-standing relationship among the communities.
The bishop also condemned the destruction of homes and property, as well as the killing and maiming of innocent people, describing the violence as unacceptable.
He called on residents to cooperate with security agencies in identifying and flushing out criminal elements responsible for fuelling the crisis.
Yohanna further appealed to vigilante groups, youths and community leaders to halt hostilities and channel their grievances through lawful and peaceful means.
Expressing confidence that lasting peace could be restored, he urged all parties to embrace dialogue and support ongoing efforts by the government and security agencies.
The cleric also appealed to the Emir of Borgu, Alhaji Muhammed Hakiru Dantoro, to establish peace and conflict-resolution committees to promote dialogue and strengthen harmony among the ethnic groups.
He commended President Bola Tinubu and Niger State Governor Umaru Bago for measures taken to improve security in Agwara and Borgu, while urging all stakeholders to sustain efforts aimed at preventing further bloodshed.
