The Police Command in Jigawa has reported that a clash between herders and farmers in Birnin Kudu Local Government Area resulted in the deaths of two people and the burning of three houses on Tuesday.
This information was disclosed in a statement by DSP Lawan Shiisu, the command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Dutse, on Wednesday.
Shiisu stated that the incident began when suspected cattle herders from Katsina State, allegedly invited by local herdsmen, invaded and destroyed farmlands in Safa and Gaurakai villages.
“On Tuesday, at about 1600hrs, the command received information from reliable sources that herders with a large number of cattle from Katsina State, on the invitation of the indigenous herders, were sighted moving towards Safa and Gaurakai villages. As a result of this, farmlands along the route were destroyed,” Shiisu said.
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 Vigilance Group of Nigeria (VGN) to the scenes.
Shiisu explained that farmers in the affected communities had mobilized in large numbers to defend their farmlands before the arrival of the security team. The parties consequently clashed before the team succeeded in dispersing them.
“As the visiting herders warded off their cattle, two persons, one from each side, were observed to have lost their lives,” Shiisu said. He added that three houses belonging to indigenous herders were set on fire and 15 cattle abandoned by the visiting herders were recovered.
Five indigenous herders suspected of inviting the invading herders were arrested. Normalcy has since been restored in the affected areas as police tactical teams, in collaboration with local vigilance group members, hunters, and Yan Bulala, a local security network, have been deployed to prevent further breaches of peace.
Shiisu confirmed that an investigation into the case is ongoing and anyone found guilty will be prosecuted accordingly.
