One person has been killed, with many others sustaining varying degrees of injuries in several clashes that ensued between farmers and herders in some communities across Yobe State.
Yobe State Police Command disclosed this in a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, DSP Dungus Abdulkarim and made available to newsmen in Damaturu.
In the statement, the command also revealed that 14 incidents between farmers and herders had been recorded in recent time resulting to wanton destruction of lives and property in the state.
One of the incidents occurred on 1st July, 2024, in Gazarkuma village, Nangere local government area, where youths were allegedly mobilized by the village head and attacked farm labourers in Gubate village resulting to the death of a 35-year-old tractor driver, identified as Mohammed Kabiru with one other sustaining grievous injury.
“In a similar vein, on June 26th, 2024, at about 1600hr, Police in Damagum arrested Abduwahab Abubakar, 40, and four other suspects for conspiring and attacking Hussaini Lawan Sani, 45, of Goba Abba Village.
“The assailants, carrying dangerous objects, attacked and robbed the victim of N250,000.00.
“The suspects are currently behind bars, and a discreet investigation is ongoing at the State CID”, he said.
The command, however, attributed the recurring incidents to lack of early reporting of aggressive trespass, previous unsettled disputes, and informal arrangements in allocating farmlands.
It added that criminally minded community members were taking the law into their hands for ulterior motives, warning that it would not hesitate to arrest and prosecute culprits.
The State Commissioner of Police, Garba Ahmed, who in the statement expressed the committed of his command to addressing agro-related conflict issues through designed programs for parties at various LGAs, said Divisional Police Headquarters were directed to encourage early referral of disputes; organize monthly community engagement of farm owners and herders, as well as ensure robust surveillance on mischievous elements.
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