At Least 50 Killed in Ethnic Clashes in Nigeria

Posted December 31st, 2011 at 8:35 pm (UTC-5)
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At least 50 people were killed Saturday in southeastern Nigeria in clashes between two rival ethnic communities.

A spokesman for the Ebonyi state government said police and troops were dispatched to quell the violence.

He said the clashes erupted between the Ezza and Ezilo people of Ishielu district, the two groups that are often in conflict. He said the exact death toll cannot yet be determined.

Violent disputes over land are common in Africa's most populous country because the majority of its 160 million people are farmers living in rural areas with few authorities to arbitrate disputes.