Kebbi Govt Vows Justice as Eight Die in Farmers-Herders Clash in Gulma
By Yusuf Gwandu
The Kebbi State Government has commiserated with the people of Gulma over the tragic loss of eight lives following a violent clash between farmers and herders in Argungu Local Government Area on Monday.
Deputy Governor Senator Umar Abubakar Tafida led a high-powered delegation on behalf of Governor Nasir Idris to console the people of Gulma over the sordid incident.
Speaking at the Emir’s Palace in Argungu before the funeral prayer for the deceased victims, the Deputy Governor conveyed the condolences of the Kebbi State Government to the affected families.
Senator Umar Tafida assured the grieving community that the government is taking necessary measures to bring those involved in the killings to justice. He urged the affected families to take solace in the incident as ordained by Allah and to bear the loss of their kinsmen with fortitude.
The clash erupted on Monday when a herder allegedly allowed his cattle to stray into the farmland of one Alhaji Aminu Ala, destroying crops. A confrontation ensued, during which the farmer was fatally stabbed in the neck. The killing sparked outrage among residents, who mobilised and attacked the herder, killing him and setting his body ablaze. The mob thereafter launched further attacks on members of the affected community.
Despite efforts by security operatives to restore order, four additional persons were killed. Two more corpses were later recovered from a farmland on the outskirts of Gulma Town, bringing the death toll to eight. According to the police, the victims comprised one farmer and seven herders. Security operatives successfully rescued five persons, including a woman, who were trapped during the violence and evacuated them to the Argungu Divisional Police Headquarters for protection.
Earlier, the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Samaila Muhammad Mera, while receiving elders of the Fulani Community who came to condole him over the incident, described the farmers-herders clash as a very sad calamity in the history of the Emirate. He assured that justice would be meted out to whoever has a hand in the violence and prayed to Allah for the repose of the souls of the deceased and peaceful coexistence among the communities. The Emir appealed to them to maintain law and order, assuring that those involved in the violence would be sorted out and face justice.
The leader of the Fulani Community expressed sorrow over the incident and assured that despite the setback caused by the clash, they would continue to live in peace with the community.
A jana’iza funeral prayer was later held for the dead victims at the Emir’s Palace.
Earlier, a joint security team comprising the police and other security agencies has been deployed to the area to forestall further breakdown of law and order. The state government has also taken measures to restore peace and prevent a recurrence of the violence.
Investigations have commenced to identify and apprehend those responsible for the killings and destruction. Normalcy is gradually returning to the area, with security personnel maintaining intensive patrols and surveillance operations.
