Farmers and Herders Feud Claims Three Lives in Niger State

A clash between herders and farmers allegedly resulted in the deaths of three people in Kwali village, Gwada, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

The incident reportedly occurred on Thursday, causing tension between the two sides.

According to the NIGERIA NEWS 247, the conflict was triggered by a disagreement between a farmer, Salihu Adamu, and a herdsman, Usman Sarki.

A source said that Sarki brought his cows to graze on Adamu’s farm in Kwali village, causing damage to his crops. This led to a serious confrontation between the two men.

After their quarrel, the farmer returned to work, but the herdsman, unhappy with the outcome, attacked him from behind with a machete, resulting in the farmer’s death. Angered by the killing, the farmer’s community mobilized and followed the herder to his settlement, where they lynched him and another person.

The herders retaliated by invading Kwali village, setting all the houses on fire, including food barns.

Niger State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident, stating that the Gwada Division reported a feud between herders and farmers on Thursday.

Abiodun explained that Sarki had driven his cattle into the farm, and during the altercation, he inflicted a fatal machete wound on Adamu. In response, villagers burned the nearby Fulani camp, and the herders retaliated.

The police, led by the Gwada Division’s DPO and vigilante members, restored normalcy. Efforts are ongoing to arrest the suspects responsible for the violence.