A ₦20 million relief package intended for victims of the communal strife in Rafi has ignited a dispute characterized by claims of violence and the questionable detention of an injured resident. The Niger State Government provided these funds to support Internally Displaced Persons caught in the ongoing struggle between the Fulani and Kamuku groups, splitting the total evenly between them.
The situation escalated when a Kamuku man sustained severe machete wounds during an alleged attack by Fulani assailants. Instead of receiving assistance after reporting the assault to the police, the victim was taken into custody and subsequently moved to the Niger State Police Command Headquarters in Minna, where he is currently being held under guard while undergoing medical care.
Records indicate that Salihu Appa, a former Rafi Local Government Council Secretary, accepted the ₦10 million meant for the Kamuku community, while Alhaji Itatuwa was identified as the recipient of the funds for the Fulani faction. This development has deepened skepticism regarding the administration of the aid.
Community leaders and concerned citizens are now questioning the effectiveness of temporary financial assistance, arguing that the underlying issues remain unaddressed. Observers have accused certain individuals of profiting from the instability and are pressing the state government to hold these provocateurs accountable. Furthermore, there is a vocal demand for the Commissioner of Police to conduct an impartial inquiry into the recent assault and the subsequent detention of the victim. Long-standing instability in the Rafi area continues to devastate local populations, resulting in significant loss of life and mass displacement.
