Nigeria imposes curfew amid fresh violence in NW Kaduna

By Rafiu Ajakaye

LAGOS, Nigeria (AA) - Nigeria on Friday imposed a 24-hour curfew in the northwestern Kaduna state amid reports of fresh violence.

"Following events in Kasuwan Magani, the dusk to dawn curfew that has been in place in Kajuru local government area has been extended to 24 hours in the entire council," Samuel Aruwan, spokesman to the state governor, said in a statement Friday afternoon.

"The curfew in the entire Kajuru local government area is with immediate effect and will be enforced until further notice."

The development came hours after deadly ethnic clashes Thursday night in the area, resulting in a yet-to-be-confirmed number of casualties.

Southern Kaduna, a potpourri of many ethnic groups with a history of violent clashes over land ownership rights and religious differences, has recorded dozens of deaths in the past few months.