Farmers-Herders Clash Leaves 2 Dead In FCT Community, Residents Flee

Residents of Kudu community near Takuro in Dafa Ward of Kwali Area Council in the FCT have fled their homes following a clash between farmers and herders that left two persons dead and six others injured.

A member of the community, Ishaku Shuaibu, who confirmed the incident via telephone on Thursday, said it occurred around 8.43am on Tuesday.

He said the clash began after cows belonging to herders allegedly fed on mangoes in the community, which reportedly led to the sudden death of two of the animals.

According to him, the owner of the cows later accused the owner of the mango tree of poisoning the fruits.

Shuaibu said one of the herders invited villagers to the scene where the dead cows were found.

“On getting to the scene, one of the herders suddenly pulled out a cutlass and stabbed two villagers, killing one on the spot,” he said.

He added that another victim, who lost his right hand in the attack, was rushed to a hospital in Gwagwalada but later died while receiving treatment.

Shuaibu said the killings heightened tension in the community, with some youths allegedly attacking and burning herders’ settlements.

He noted that fear escalated following rumours of a reprisal attack, forcing many residents to flee to neighbouring communities.

“It was after some herders’ settlements were burnt that rumours spread that the herders were mobilising for a reprisal attack, prompting villagers to flee,” he said.

Displaced residents were said to have taken refuge in Ashara, Fogbe, Kuka and Wako communities.

Security operatives, including personnel of the DSS, police and the military, have been deployed to restore calm.

Reacting, the FCT Treasurer of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Abdullaziz Ibrahim, confirmed the incident but said details remained unclear.

“I was informed about the incident, but there are conflicting accounts. Some say the mangoes were poisoned, while others claim a pond where the cows drank water was contaminated. I cannot give clear details for now,” he said.

He, however, confirmed that security operatives had been deployed to restore normalcy.

Also speaking, the FCT MACBAN Chairman, Alhaji Wakili Madugu, said he had received reports of the incident but could not provide details.

A police source at the Gwagwalada command, who preferred anonymity, also confirmed the incident, stating that one person died instantly while another died in hospital.

The source added that operatives from the Kwali Division, alongside the army and DSS, had been deployed to contain the situation.

Efforts to get official confirmation from the FCT Police Command were unsuccessful, as the spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, did not respond to calls or text messages as of the time of filing this report.(Daily trust)