A community chief, Saidu Mujeli, and 14 others have been killed in an ethnic clash involving Fulani and Kambari groups in Kebbi State.
The victims were killed during a night attack in Lafagu Village, Bagudo Local Government Area, after violence between the two groups escalated.
It was gathered on Tuesday that the attackers also set the residence of the slain traditional ruler ablaze, while the violence spread to nearby Buya community on Sunday night.
The eldest son of the late community chief, Idris Saidu, said the attackers arrived in large numbers and were armed with sophisticated weapons. He said his father was among those killed in the attack.
Kebbi State Commissioner of Police, Umar Hadejia, said the crisis began after two Kambari traders were allegedly attacked in a market by some Fulani, who accused them of stealing and killing members of their community.
According to Hadejia, the incident triggered a retaliatory attack by members of the Kambari group, resulting in the deaths in Lafagu.
The police commissioner said six suspects had been arrested in connection with the killings.
He said three of the suspects were taken to the Criminal Investigation Department office in Kaoje, while the other three were held at the CID office in Birnin Kebbi.
“At present, we have arrested six suspects in connection with the killings,” Hadejia said.
He added that additional security personnel had been deployed to the affected communities, resulting in a return of calm across Lafagu and the wider Bagudo axis.
Meanwhile, Governor Nasir Idris, who is away from the state, condemned the violence through his media aide and expressed sympathy to the families of those killed in Lafagu and Buya.
The governor said security forces had been deployed to the affected areas to prevent further violence and a possible reprisal attack.