2.3.1. Jigawa

Table of contents

2.3.1. Jigawa

Jigawa state is comprised of the following 27 LGAs: Auyo, Babura, Biriniwa, Birnin Kudu, Buji, Dutse, Gagarawa, Garki, Gumel, Guri, Gwaram, Gwiwa, Hadejia, Jahun, Kafin Hausa, Kaugama, Kazaure, Kiri Kasama, Kiyawa, Maigatari, Malam Madori (or: Mallam Madori), Miga, Ringim, Roni, Sule Tankarkar, Taura and Yankwashi.910 The capital city is Dutse.911

The main ethnic groups, according to the Jigawa state government website, are the Hausa, the Fulani and the Mangawa, Ngizimawa and Badawa.912 The NGO Zaccheus Onumba Dibiaezue Memorial Libraries (ZODML) states that Jigawa state’s inhabitants are mainly of Hausa or Fulani origin.913 While Islam is the predominant religion in the state,914 there are also Christians.915

UNFPA and the US Census Bureau projected the population at 7 499 059 in 2022, based on figures from the 2006 census.916

a) Conflict dynamics and main actors

For a general overview on actors in Nigeria, please see section 1.1. Main actors.

In June 2025, IOM reported a multi-dimensional crisis in Nigeria's North-West, characterised by ethnic and religious tensions leading to attacks and banditry,917 with low levels of violent conflict in Jigawa state.918

Clashes between herders and farmers and communal clashes occurred in Jigawa state in the reference period, for example in May,919 June920 and July 2024921 as well as in January922 and February 2025,923 in Miga,924 Jahun,925 Dutse, Kiyaw,926 and Birnin Kudu LGAs.927 According to a state representative, Guri LGA, ‘a fertile region with thriving farming and herding activities, often experienced clashes between the two groups over land and resource use’.928 Some clashes resulted in civilian fatalities929 and injuries930 as well as property loss,931 and the burning of houses.932 In February 2025, tensions between farmers and herders in the state increased,933 with clashes described as ‘persistent’ in May 2025.934

Protests in Jigawa state, sparked by economic hardship935 and political demands,936 were reported in February937 and in August 2024 in the state capital Dutse.938 Protests in early August 2024 turned violent.939 Violent crackdowns by the authorities led to protesters being killed among others in Jigawa state,940 where a 24-hour-curfew was imposed.941 In December 2024, herders protested in the Kaugama LGA after land was allegedly seized from them by a rice-farming company supported by the state authorities.942

b) Security incidents and impact on the population

For the period 1 January 2024 - 31 August 2025, ACLED recorded 26 security incidents (defined as battles, violence against civilians, and riots) in Jigawa state, which resulted in 45 fatalities. Of these incidents, 10 were coded as battles, 9 as riots, and 7 as incidents of violence against civilians.943

Imported image pandoc_image_16.png

Figure 7: Evolution of security events coded as battles, explosions/remote violence, riots, and violence against civilians in Jigawa state, 1 January 2024 – 31 August 2025, based on ACLED data.944

Security incidents were recorded by ACLED in 13 LGAs of the state, with the highest number documented in Dutse (5), followed by Birnin Kudu and Jahun (4 incidents each) LGAs. No incidents were recorded in 14 LGAs. According to ACLED, Fulani ethnic militia and unidentified armed groups (coded as either ‘Actor 1’ or ‘Actor 2’) were involved in the majority of incidents coded as violence against civilians.945

In June 2024, herders attacked four localities in Birnin Kudu, Dutse, and Kiwaya LGAs, including Baranda village, reportedly using matchets, bows, arrows, and sticks. The residents' attempt to defend themselves reportedly led to eight of them getting injured.946

Conflict-related infrastructure damage and road security - No information could be found during the reference period.

Displacement, movement and return - No information could be found on conflict-induced displacement or returns in Jigawa state during the reference period. A May 2024 report by the Conciliation Resources and Institute of Development Studies highlights the displacement and impoverishment caused by the seizing of farmland and pastoral land from communities and families by politicians in Jigawa, as well as in corporate deals, causing some pastoralists to migrate to other states or even out of the country.947

c) State response in maintaining law and order

In late June 2024, a restoration of peace between farmers and herders in Jigawa state was reportedly initiated by the state’s governor.948 As clashes resumed in Birnin Kudu, Dutse and Kiyawa LGAs by the end of the same month, police forces were deployed to the areas to prevent further escalation.949 In the context of a worsening of the herder-farmer conflict in early July 2024 in Birnin Kudu LGA, the Nigerian Tribune reported that security personnel and vigilante forces were deployed to the area, citing a police report, which noted that ‘farmers were also mobilised in large numbers to defend their farmlands’ before security personnel arrived to the areas.950 In May 2025, authorities announced plans to establish an anti-riot police unit in Jigawa state, a move reportedly aimed at addressing Jigawa residents’ yearnings over the area‘s frequent violent conflicts.951

  • 910

    Nigeria, Federal Government of Nigeria, States, Jigawa, n.d., url; Nigeria, Jigawa state government, 27 Local Government Area's, n.d., url

  • 911

    Nigeria, Jigawa state government, Background History, n.d., url

  • 912

    Nigeria, Jigawa state government, Background History, n.d., url

  • 913

    ZODML, Jigawa, n.d., url

  • 914

    ZODML, Jigawa, n.d., url

  • 915

    Nigeria, Jigawa state government, Topography & Religious, n.d., url

  • 916

    UNFPA and US Census Bureau, Nigeria - Subnational Population Statistics, 2022, modified 11 September 2024, url

  • 917

    IOM, Flash report 220 – Population displacement: North-west Nigeria – Zamfara state - Conflict/Violence, 5 June 2025, url

  • 918

    Punch, DSS, Police pledge collaboration to rid Jigawa of security threats, 19 March 2025, url; Conciliation Resources and Institute of Development Studies, Peace and security for pastoralist communities in African borderlands, Accord Insight 5, May 2024, url, p. 51

  • 919

    Punch, Five injured in Jigawa farmers, herders’ clash, 27 May 2024, url

  • 920

    Nigerian Tribune, Eight injured as herders attack four Jigawa communities — Police, 29 June 2024, url

  • 921

    Nigerian Tribune, Jigawa: Police confirm killings, arson in herders-farmers conflict, 3 July 2024, url

  • 922

    Nigerian Tribune, Police confirm nine dead, four injured in Jigawa communal clash, 4 January 2025, url

  • 923

    Punch, Four injured in Jigawa herders, farmers clash, 19 February 2025, url

  • 924

    Nigerian Tribune, Police confirm nine dead, four injured in Jigawa communal clash, 4 January 2025, url; Punch, Four injured in Jigawa herders, farmers clash, 19 February 2025, url

  • 925

    Nigerian Tribune, Police confirm nine dead, four injured in Jigawa communal clash, 4 January 2025, url

  • 926

    Nigerian Tribune, Eight injured as herders attack four Jigawa communities — Police, 29 June 2024, url

  • 927

    Nigerian Tribune, Jigawa: Police confirm killings, arson in herders-farmers conflict, 3 July 2024, url; Nigerian Tribune, Eight injured as herders attack four Jigawa communities — Police, 29 June 2024, url; Punch, Five injured in Jigawa farmers, herders’ clash, 27 May 2024, url

  • 928

    Punch, Jigawa residents seek anti-riot police unit over farmer-herder conflict, 7 May 2025, url

  • 929

    Daily Trust, 11 Killed, 31 Houses Burnt as ethnic crisis breaks out in Jigawa, 8 January 2025, url; Nigerian Tribune, Jigawa: Police confirm killings, arson in herders-farmers conflict, 3 July 2024, url

  • 930

    Nigerian Tribune, Police confirm nine dead, four injured in Jigawa communal clash, 4 January 2025, url; Nigerian Tribune, Eight injured as herders attack four Jigawa communities — Police, 29 June 2024, url; Punch, Five injured in Jigawa farmers, herders’ clash, 27 May 2024, url

  • 931

    Punch, Four injured in Jigawa herders, farmers clash, 19 February 2025, url

  • 932

    Daily Trust, 11 Killed, 31 Houses Burnt as ethnic crisis breaks out in Jigawa, 8 January 2025, url; Nigerian Tribune, Jigawa: Police confirm killings, arson in herders-farmers conflict, 3 July 2024, url

  • 933

    Punch, Four injured in Jigawa herders, farmers clash, 19 February 2025, url

  • 934

    Punch, Jigawa residents seek anti-riot police unit over farmer-herder conflict, 7 May 2025, url

  • 935

    BBC News, Nigerian president demands end to deadly protests, 4 August 2024, url; Nigerian Tribune, Hardship protests: Chaos in Kano, Niger, Kaduna, Abuja, Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, 2 August 2024, url; Nigerian Tribune, Police halt anti-hunger protest in Jigawa, 22 February 2024, url

  • 936

    Daily Trust, Residents protest in Jigawa, demand commissioner’s removal, 23 August 2024, url

  • 937

    Nigerian Tribune, Police halt anti-hunger protest in Jigawa, 22 February 2024, url

  • 938

    Daily Trust, Residents protest in Jigawa, demand commissioner’s removal, 23 August 2024, url; Nigerian Tribune, Hardship protests: Chaos in Kano, Niger, Kaduna, Abuja, Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, 2 August 2024, url

  • 939

    BBC News, Nigerian president demands end to deadly protests, 4 August 2024, url; Nigerian Tribune, Hardship protests: Chaos in Kano, Niger, Kaduna, Abuja, Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, 2 August 2024, url

  • 940

    Amnesty International, The State of the World's Human Rights, Nigeria 2024, 29 April 2025,url

  • 941

    BBC News, Nigerian president demands end to deadly protests, 4 August 2024, url

  • 942

    Premium Times, Tension as herders protest alleged land grabbing in Jigawa community, 24 December 2024, url

  • 943

    EUAA analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, Africa, data covering 1 January 2024 to 31 August 2025, as of 10 September 2025, url

  • 944

    EUAA analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, Africa, data covering 1 January 2024 to 31 August 2025, as of 10 September 2025, url

  • 945

    EUAA analysis based on publicly available ACLED data. ACLED, Curated Data Files, Africa, data covering 1 January 2024 to 31 August 2025, as of 10 September 2025, url

  • 946

    Nigerian Tribune, Eight injured as herders attack four Jigawa communities — Police, 29 June 2024, url

  • 947

    Conciliation Resources and Institute of Development Studies, Peace and security for pastoralist communities in African borderlands, Accord Insight 5, May 2024, url, p. 51

  • 948

    Nigerian Tribune, Gov Namadi commended as Jigawa farmers, herders resolve conflict, 24 June 2024, url

  • 949

    Nigerian Tribune, Eight injured as herders attack four Jigawa communities — Police, 29 June 2024, url

  • 950

    Nigerian Tribune, Jigawa: Police confirm killings, arson in herders-farmers conflict, 3 July 2024, url

  • 951

    Punch, Jigawa residents seek anti-riot police unit over farmer-herder conflict, 7 May 2025, url