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66 killed in Nigerian state before presidential election

Feb 15, 2019 | 9:30 AM

LAGOS, Nigeria — Authorities in Nigeria’s Kaduna state are reporting at least 66 deaths in a wave of violence just before the country’s presidential election.

Samuel Aruwan, a spokesman for Kaduna state’s governor, said Friday that the victims include 22 children.

He blamed a “criminal element” for the deaths, which have taken place this week, in the Kajuru local government area.

One resident blamed the killings on fighting between Christian farmers and Fulani Muslim herdsmen.