Another sign of Nigeria's social breakdown—and similar tensions are reported from Ghana. From Xinhua, Jan. 9:

Six persons were killed at the weekend in a bloody clash between herdsmen and farmers in Korenganuwa village in Nigeria's northwestern state of Zamfara, the official News Agency of Nigeria reported on Monday.

A source at the headquarters of the Zamfara State Police Command who asked for anonymity confirmed the clash, adding that the clash also left several Fulani cattle rearers and local farmers seriously injured.

An eyewitness who refused to be named said "the trouble started when migrant herdsmen from the neighboring country Niger Republic invaded some farms in the village with their cattle."

He added that this led to the destruction of produce and animal feeds valued at millions of naira (tens and thousands of U.S. dollars).

During the clash, the herdsmen were alleged to have shot dead three persons before fleeing the village, while three others died at the Federal Medical Center in the state capital Gusau.

According to the police source, six persons, including the village head, have been arrested in connection with the incident.

See our last post on Nigeria, the Fulani and the politics of the Sahel.