A Nasarawa lawmaker raises alarm after renewed farmers-herders attacks kill 32 people and displace over 200 residents in three months.
No fewer than 32 persons have been murdered and over 200 others displaced in renewed hostilities between farmers and herders in Udege, Nasarawa Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
The crisis, which is said to have started on April 3, 2026, at Udeni Gida in Odeni Gida Electoral Ward, has escalated to neighbouring communities and destroyed property worth millions of naira.
The member representing Udege/Loko Constituency, Onarigu Onah-Kana, raised the alarm during plenary of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly under a matter of urgent public importance.
Onah-Kana, while decrying the devastating nature of the ugly incident, said the conflict has claimed 32 lives in the last three months, with several others injured or declared missing, while houses, vehicles, motorcycles, foodstuffs and farmlands were razed.
His words, “Mr Speaker and my colleagues, I have a matter of urgent public importance regarding the Odeni Gida Electoral Ward communal crisis. Over the past three months, since April 3, 2026, the peace of Odeni Gida Electoral Ward has been severely disrupted,” Kana told the House.
“The situation has resulted in a tragic human toll, with about 32 people killed, while others were reportedly injured or remain missing. Houses were set ablaze, while cars, motorcycles, foodstuffs and other valuables were destroyed.
“Over 200 residents have been displaced from their homes and are now taking refuge in makeshift camps. Properties, farmlands and local businesses worth millions of naira have been completely razed or destroyed,” he said.
The lawmaker, however, cautioned that if drastic action was not taken, the violence could spill over into neighbouring communities, further worsening the humanitarian and security situation in the state.
Onah-Kana admonished the House to condemn the violence, direct security agencies to restore peace, appealed to the National Emergency Management Agency and the Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency to provide relief materials to victims, and mandate its Committee on Security and Special Duties to investigate the root causes of the crisis.
Earlier, in its resolutions, the House called on Governor Abdullahi Sule to, as a matter of urgency, direct the Commissioner of Police to deploy personnel to Udege and other affected communities to maintain peace and order.
Speaker of the House, Dr. Danladi Jatau, who described the renewed attacks as unfortunate, also urged the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to deploy officers to the area.
According to him, “The crisis is currently crippling socio-economic activities in the villages of Odeni Gida Electoral Ward and poses a direct threat to the broader peace and stability of our people in Agwan Mada, Apura Adagba, Udege Kasa, Akyewa, Agwan Ogiri and other communities. The people can no longer go to their farms safely,” the Speaker said.
He revealed that the crisis had continued to spread, with one person killed on June 25 while returning from his farm in Akum town, Akum Electoral Ward, and another killed on his farm at Agam village on July 9.
The House directed its Clerk to communicate its resolutions to the Governor for immediate action, while appealing for calm and calling on community leaders and traditional rulers to establish peace and reconciliation committees in their domains.
