Muslims in Nigeria begin Ramadan fast Saturday — NSCIA

Muslims in Nigeria will begin fasting Saturday, following the sighting of the Ramadan moon, head of the Moon sighting committee of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, [NSCIA], Prof. Sambo Wali Junaidu, announced early Saturday in Sokoto, according to the Nigerian Televison Authority NTA and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, monitored in Abuja.

The new announcement updates an earlier statement by the NSCIA, which had asked Nigerian Muslims to commence the Ramadan fast on Sunday, because, according to the Secretary-General of the body, Ishaq Oloyede, a professor of Islamic studies, the moon had not been sighted.

House of Reps mandates army, police to stop herdsmen, Tiv conflict

Following an escalating conflicts and an endless killing  in some parts of Benue state the Nigerian House of Representatives has asked the Nigerian Army and the the police to deploy men in villages where such escalating conflicts between herdsmen and the Tiv have claimed many lives lately.

In Benue state, herdsmen and the Tiv have had a running battle in recent time over the destruction of farmlands by cattle‎, especially in Moon, Kwande Local Government Area of the state. The fighting  also spilled into the Makurdi-Lafia Expressway and parts of Guma Local Government Area, where thousands of villagers were reportedly sacked by the‎ herdsmen.