Nigeria ethnic clashes leave 39 dead: Police

At least 39 people have been killed in clashes between rival communities in a town in the eastern Nigerian state of Taraba, police officials say.
The clashes broke out between the members of the Jukun and Hausa Fulani community during a funeral procession in the town of Wukari on Friday.

“At the end of the clash, 39 people were counted killed,” Spokesman for Taraba state police, Joseph Kwaji, said on Saturday.

Dozens of riot police were deployed to the area after over 30 homes and properties were set on fire.

At least 32 people were reportedly wounded and 40 others detained during the violence.

Following the violence, Kefas Sule, a spokesman for the Taraba state government, issued a statement saying that a 24-hour curfew has been imposed on the town.

At least 20 people lost their lives in a similar round of violence in the town in February.

Nigeria, home to more than 200 ethnic groups has an almost equal Christian-Muslim population.

According to the Brussels-based International Crisis Group, ethnic and religious conflicts in Nigeria have claimed the lives of over 14,000 people between 1999 and 2009.