NIGERIA: Thousands displaced in ethnic unrest

ABIDJAN, 25 June (IRIN) - Thousands of people have been seeking refuge in and around the central Nigerian town of Makurdi following more than a week of ethnic violence in which dozens have been reported killed, local residents said on Monday. Fighting between Tivs and Hausa-speakers in Nasarawa State followed the 12 June killing by unknown gunmen of Musa Ibrahim, a Hausa traditional ruler, and members of his entourage. His people blamed the incident on the Tivs and launched reprisal killings, forcing many to flee to nearby Benue State where Tivs form the majority.

"No fewer than 5,000 people who fled Nasarawa State in the past week are currently quartered in a camp set up on the outskirts of Makurdi (the Benue State capital) by the state government," John Iyorche, a resident of Makurdi told IRIN. "At least two similar camps exist in other parts of the state with a comparable number of displaced people as well," he added. "Most reported that either family members or neighbours in places like Awe, Obi and Kiana (in Nasarawa) have been killed or wounded in attacks since last week."

Local newspapers had reported growing tension in the area since April when violence first broke out between the two groups over allegations by the Tiv that Ibrahim, a leading landowner, was encroaching on their land. The region affected by the latest disturbances lies to the east of Nigeria's capital, Abuja. A major agricultural area, it is inhabited by substantial populations of Christians, mainly Tivs, and Muslims, mostly Hausa-speaking.

This has raised fears that the conflict may take on a religious dimension if anti-riot policemen already deployed to the area fail to bring the situation rapidly under control. Residents of Abuja and other urban centres in the region have reported a sharp increase in the prices of food items, since the fighting has prevented transporters from evacuating agricultural produce from the area.