AT least 10 people have been killed and thousands have fled their homes in central Nigeria after ethnic clashes following the grisly beheading of a traditional ruler last week, officials said Thursday. The clashes — between people from the ethnic Tiv minority and the majority Hausa-speaking Azeri community — have swept through towns and villages in the southeast of Nasarawa, a large state bordering the capital Abuja, they said. “At least ten people have been killed. A detachment of anti-riot police have been deployed to quell the attacks,” said Nasarawa government representative Rabiu Abdullahi. “Efforts are being made to restore calm, to provide a lasting solution. We have agreed to set up a judicial commission of inquiry to attend to the problems,” he added. Details of the clashes which officials said had taken place over several days were scarce. The official said the clashes were “reprisal attacks on the Tivs in the Awe local government area” after the grisly June 12 beheading of a local Azeri traditional ruler and five others from Awe. – AFP
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