A violent clash in the Barkuta community of Beji district, located in Bosso Local Government Area of Niger State, has reportedly resulted in multiple fatalities.
The conflict, which erupted in the early hours of Tuesday, involved native Gbagyi people and herdsmen, leaving several individuals injured and homes destroyed.
The violence was allegedly sparked after a prominent farmer in the community, simply identified as Alhaji, was killed by herdsmen on Monday evening.
Alhaji had reportedly confronted the herdsmen about the invasion of farms by their cattle. When he failed to return from his visit to the herdsmen’s settlement, concerned community members launched a search the following morning, eventually discovering his lifeless body in a nearby bush.
Outraged by the murder, members of the community mobilized and retaliated by attacking the herdsmen’s enclaves. The ensuing confrontation resulted in an unspecified number of deaths and numerous injuries on both sides.
As tension escalates, many residents have fled the community in anticipation of potential reprisal attacks. The atmosphere remains tense, with no official statements yet released by the government or the police command concerning the incident.
A prominent local political leader, who requested anonymity, confirmed the tragic event to the Daily Sun via telephone. However, details about the extent of the casualties and damage remain unclear.
The incident comes nearly eight years after a similar conflict in the area claimed over 50 lives. During that previous clash, houses and food barns belonging to the natives were torched, and 11 soldiers, along with an unknown number of villagers, were mysteriously killed.
