At least two people were killed and houses set ablaze in a clash between farmers and herders in the Birnin Kudu Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
The State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Lawan Shiisu Adam, confirmed the incident in a statement.
A resident detailed that the clash erupted after herdsmen, suspected to be invited by local herders from neighboring states, destroyed farmlands along their route.
This led to a violent confrontation between the two groups, resulting in many injuries.
Providing further details, the PPRO said, “information from reliable sources is that herders with a large number of cattle from Katsina state on the invitation by the indigenous herders were sighted moving towards Safa and Gauraki villages in Birnin Kudu Local Government Area, as a result of this, farmlands along the route were destroyed.”
Upon receiving the report, the Area Commander of Birnin Kudu Area Command mobilized patrol teams along with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) to the scene.
Shiisu explained that “farmers were also mobilized in large numbers to defend their farmlands before the arrival of a team.
“Consequently, the duo attacked themselves, though the team succeeded in dispersing the warring parties.”
He reported that two individuals—one from each side—lost their lives. Three houses belonging to the indigenous herders were set on fire, fifteen cows abandoned by the visiting herders were found, and five indigenous herders suspected of inviting the outsiders were taken into custody.
Shiisu noted that normalcy has been restored with the deployment of police tactical teams, in collaboration with local vigilantes, hunters, and Yan Bulala, to prevent further breaches of peace.
