2 killed, houses burnt as farmers, herders clash in Niger

Two people, a herder and a farmer, were killed on Thursday in a violent clash between suspected Fulani herders and Gbagyi farmers in Kadna village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

Sources told our correspondent that several houses, domestic animals including goats as well as food stuffs and other valuables belonging to Gbagyi farmers were razed.

Dozens of farmers in Kadna village have also fled their homes to Gwada and neighbouring villages for fear of a reprisal attack by herders.

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A source who pleaded for anonymity said, “The clash started in the morning on Thursday when a suspected Fulani herder encroached on a farm leading to the clash. The Gbagyi man was beheaded and on reprisal, Gbagyi farmers mobilised and killed one of the herders. After that, herders mobilised and razed Kadna village, burning houses, killing even goats. Currently, people of Kadna have fled for fear of reprisal.”

The spokesperson of the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, could not be reached on telephone as at the time of filing this report, and he had also yet to reply to a message sent to his phone.