No fewer than eight people have been killed in a deadly clash between farmers and herders in Gulma Town, Argungu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, sparking fresh concerns over recurring rural violence in the region.
The Kebbi State Police Command confirmed the incident on Tuesday, revealing that the victims included one farmer and seven herders, while five persons, among them a woman, were rescued by security operatives.
According to the command’s spokesman, SP Bashir Usman, the violence erupted around 3:00 p.m. on Monday after a herder, identified as Yaron Buba-Dogo, allegedly allowed his cattle to stray into the farmland of Alhaji Aminu Ala, destroying crops.
The situation quickly escalated into a confrontation during which the farmer was allegedly stabbed in the neck and died on the spot.
The killing triggered outrage among residents, who reportedly descended on the herder, killing him and setting his body ablaze.
The mob then launched retaliatory attacks on members of the herding community, unleashing a wave of violence that left several people dead.
“Despite efforts by security personnel to restore calm, four additional persons were killed and their bodies burnt beyond recognition,” Usman said.
He added that two more bodies were later recovered from a farmland on the outskirts of Gulma Town, bringing the death toll to eight.
Police operatives, however, rescued five persons trapped during the violence and evacuated them to the Argungu Divisional Police Headquarters for safety.
In response to the crisis, a joint security team comprising police and other security agencies has been deployed to the area to prevent further violence, while the Kebbi State Government has imposed a curfew on the affected community.
Usman said normalcy was gradually returning to Gulma as security personnel intensified patrols and surveillance operations.
He disclosed that investigations had commenced to identify and arrest those behind the killings and destruction.
The Commissioner of Police, Umar Hadejia, appealed to residents to remain calm and law-abiding, assuring that all those involved in the violence would be brought to justice.
He also reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, urging members of the public to support security agencies with credible information to prevent further bloodshed
