A deadly clash between farmers and herders in Gulma community has left eight persons dead. The violence erupted in Argungu Local Government Area of Kebbi State on Monday afternoon.
Around 3pm that day, cattle belonging to herder Yaron Buba Dogo strayed into farmland owned by Alhaji Aminu Ala. Crops were destroyed in the process.
When Ala confronted Dogo about the damage, a fight broke out. The farmer was fatally stabbed in the neck during the altercation.
Community members responded swiftly to the killing. They tracked down Dogo and killed him, then burned his body.
Their rage didn't stop there. Residents launched attacks on other members of the herder's community.
Four more people lost their lives even after security forces arrived to intervene. Their bodies were burned beyond recognition.
Two additional corpses were discovered later in farmland near Gulma Town. Police managed to rescue five people, including a woman, who were caught in the violence.
SP Bashir Usman, the state police command's spokesman, confirmed the details in a statement from Birnin Kebbi. He said security personnel had responded quickly to the situation.
A joint security operation has now been deployed to the area. Government imposed a curfew to restore calm and prevent further bloodshed.
Patrols and surveillance activities continue throughout the community. According to Usman, normalcy is gradually returning to the region.
Police are investigating the incident to identify those responsible for the deaths. They're working to apprehend the perpetrators.
Sources familiar with the matter revealed a history of bad blood between the two men. This wasn't the first time their conflict had turned violent.
Years earlier, Dogo's cattle had damaged Ala's farmland in a similar incident. When Ala tried pushing the animals away, he broke one of the cow's legs.
That broken leg created lasting tension between them. On Monday, Dogo returned to settle the old score.
He came back to Ala's farm looking for a fight. The confrontation turned deadly when he stabbed the farmer.
Word of Ala's death spread quickly through the community. Angry residents mobilized to attack Dogo and other members of his settlement.
