By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
Two people have been killed following a violent clash between farmers and suspected herders in Yalwan Musari village, Jigawa State, after a late-night grazing incident escalated into bloodshed.
The incident, which occurred over the weekend, was confirmed in a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the Jigawa State Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), SP Badaruddeen Mohammed. He said the violence began at about 10:00 p.m. when herders allegedly led cattle into cultivated farmlands under the cover of darkness.
According to the statement, residents said the cattle destroyed large portions of crops, prompting angry farmers to confront the herders in an attempt to stop further damage. The confrontation quickly turned violent, leaving a 40-year-old farmer, Adamu Hassan, dead. Another resident, Abba Abba Abdullahi, aged 25, sustained injuries and is currently receiving medical treatment.
SP Badaruddeen said the suspected herders fled into nearby bushes before security operatives could arrive at the scene. He added that security teams and local authorities later moved into the village to restore calm and commence investigations.
“The situation in the village is presently calm, with no fresh disturbances recorded,” he said, noting that patrols have been intensified to prevent reprisals and reassure residents.
In a further briefing, the NSCDC spokesperson disclosed that the violence resumed the following morning when villagers returned to inspect the damaged farmlands. He alleged that the farmers were ambushed by herders who had hidden in the area.
“The attackers reportedly opened fire with bows and arrows, killing one Magaji Dan’aya on the spot and injuring his younger brother,” Badaruddeen said. He added that when farmers attempted to regroup and resist, the herders allegedly reinforced, moved their cattle further away and launched another attack, killing a second farmer.
During the ensuing chaos, one of the corpses was reportedly abandoned in the bush as villagers fled for safety. The attackers were also said to have pursued residents back to the community and set parts of the settlement ablaze.
Although a joint security team from Operation Salama, comprising police and military personnel, responded to the distress call, the second body was only recovered later by NSCDC operatives due to fears that the attackers were still lurking in the area.
Authorities have vowed to identify and arrest those responsible. The NSCDC said it has agreed, alongside other security agencies, to intensify surveillance, strengthen night patrols around vulnerable farmlands, and engage community leaders and Miyetti Allah representatives to enhance intelligence gathering and rapid reporting of suspicious movements.
