LAGOS, July 13 (Xinhua) -- Clashes in Nigeria's northern Taraba state have left at least 73 people dead, an official said Friday.

The hostilities, which started on July 5, has claimed the lives of more than 23 of his members, Sahabi Mahmoud, Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) told reporters in Jalingo, the state capital.

He said 73 people were confirmed dead and about 50 villages burnt following a renewed violence between the Hausa-Fulani and Yandang communities in Lau area of the state.

He said over 3,000 displaced Hausa-Fulanis, mainly women and children who fled the area, are currently taking refuge at the Muslim Council Secretariat in Jalingo and other neighboring local government areas.

In the same vein, an elder of the Yandang community, Aaron Artimas, said more than 50 people from the side of the Yandang and other tribes in area were confirmed dead as a result of the conflicts.

Artimas blamed the recent recurring conflicts on incitement from people outside the area who wanted to remain relevant politically.

State police spokesperson David Misal, who confirmed the incident, said the number of casualties was still being compiled, while normalcy has been restored in the affected areas.

Clashes between herders and farmers in Nigeria have left hundreds dead in the past few months.

The majority of farmer-herder clashes have occurred between Muslim Fulani herdsmen and Christian peasants, exacerbating ethno-religious hostilities.