Farmer-Herder Clash in FCT Leaves Four Dead, Homes Burned

A local dispute over crop destruction spiraled into a deadly communal clash last week in the Federal Capital Territory, leaving four people dead, multiple homes burned, and scores of residents displaced.

The violence erupted on Wednesday morning in the Gudun-Karya community of the Kuje Area Council after a farmer confronted a herder whose cattle were grazing on his cassava farm, according to local accounts.

From Farm Dispute to Fatal Violence

Resident Ishaya Musa provided a detailed chronology of the event. He stated that upon finding cattle consuming his crops, the farmer engaged the herder, leading to a heated argument.

“The next thing, the herder brought out a cutlass and stabbed the farmer, which led to his death,” Musa said, noting the farmer succumbed to his injuries before reaching a hospital.

News of the killing triggered immediate and severe reprisals from youths within the community. The retaliatory violence resulted in three additional fatalities and the burning of several houses and herders’ huts, creating an atmosphere of terror that caused both farmers and herders to abandon their homes.

Calm Restored, High-Level Talks Planned

Councilor Bitrus Rabo, representing Gudun-Karya Ward, confirmed the casualty figures on Sunday. “The four deceased individuals comprised three herders and one native of the community,” Rabo stated via telephone.

He reported that security forces, led by the local Divisional Police Officer, had since intervened to quell the unrest. “As I speak, the situation is now under control. Security operatives… have restored peace, and those who fled their homes have started returning,” Rabo added.

The incident has prompted planned high-level discussions to address the underlying tensions. Alhaji Jibrin Wakili Madudgu, Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in the FCT, confirmed he was briefed on the clash.

Madudgu stated the association would meet with Kuje Area Council Chairman Alhaji Abdullahi Suleiman Sabo regarding the incident, with a press briefing to follow by the week’s end.

While the FCT Police Command acknowledged the incident, repeated attempts to obtain an official statement from the police spokesperson were unsuccessful at the time of reporting. The fragile calm in Gudun-Karya now hinges on the efficacy of both sustained security presence and upcoming diplomatic efforts.