Fresh fights rock community over traditional leadership
Fresh violence erupted in Muye village of Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State, following an extended chieftaincy tussle that has dragged supporters of rival traditional authorities against each other.
Around 6:20 p.m. on Thursday, the unrest began when the ousted village head, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulkadir Maigari II, returned to the community and allegedly forced his way into the palace, thereby reopening very long-standing wounds in the community.
Sources told Zagazola Makama, a security expert said that following his unanticipated return, hostilities erupted immediately between them and the supporters of the incumbent traditional ruler, the Dakachi of Muye.
All security agencies in Lapai quickly intervened to calm the situation and restore temporary peace.
The calm was short-lived as on Friday morning, violence erupted again as rival factions descended upon each other in an all-out free-for-all fighting and disrupting public peace, thereby sparking fears of greater unrest.
Additional operatives were said to have been posted to the village by security sources in a bid to contain the crisis and avert the full-blown crisis.
The combined security teams have brought the situation under control. Monitoring and surveillance operations are ongoing to prevent further breakdown of law and order,” the source said.
As at the time of filing this report, there has been no official confirmation of casualties or arrests, and no formal statement has been released by the authorities
