39 killed in Nigerian ethnic clash

Nigeria: Police say at least 39 people have been killed in ethnic violence in a rural town in Nigeria.

The attack happened Friday in Wukari, a town in Nigeria’s Taraba state.

A state health official and residents said Saturday that others were also injured in the violence that sparked during a funeral service that pitted the Jukun people against the Hausa Fulani. Taraba state police spokesman Joseph Kwaji later said at least 39 people had been killed.

Officials later placed the town on a 24-hour curfew, forcing everyone indoors.

A similar round of violence in February in the town killed more than 20 people.

Nigeria, home to more than 160 million people, has more than 250 different ethnicities. Violence can start over politics, business, grazing rights, religion and other issues.