Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State yesterday night imposed a 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. curfew in the state.

The Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor, Mr Yakubu Lamai, who announced this after emergency security meeting, held at Government House in Lafia, further added that the action became imperative, due to incessant crises that engulfed major streets by two warring groups.

The curfew came on the heels of a violent clash, on Sunday in Lafia, the state capital, between members of the proscribed Ombatse militia group and Kamberi youths, which left seven people dead and several houses torched.

It was gathered that the latest hostility, started around 8:00 a.m., when some Eggon youths invaded Lafia to attack emir‘s palace as a reprisal of invasion of Alakyo village by Fulani mercenaries, on Sunday morning, before they were repelled by Kamberi youths.

Sources said the motive behind Ombatse‘s attack on the palace was that they alleged that the emir was harbouring some mercenaries in his domain.

The new crisis shut down the city and grounded economic activities, as shop owners closed and fled for fear of attack.

Kamberi youths were said to have overpowered their Eggon counterparts and chased them away from the state capital.

As of the time of filing this report, the whole town had been deserted, with only a few people plying the roads and government offices half closed.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Nassarawa State Command, Ugochukwu Theodore, said the police command had beefed up security in all flash points, urging law abiding citizens to go about their lawful duties.

The police also said it had arrested 14 people in connection with the violence that erupted in Lafia.

•Adapted from Nigerian Tribune. Photo shows Governor Al-Makura.