There was tension on Monday at Tudu-Uku community of Gadabuke District in Toto LGA of Nasarawa State over the killing of a herder, Dauda Aliyu, in a reprisal.
A resident, Saidu Gambo, said the tension erupted after a farmer, identified as Salihu, was attacked on his head with a cutlass by a herder, after which was rushed to the hospital but died later.
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He explained that, “Salihu went to his farm and saw cows eating his crops. He queried the herder and an argument ensued, following which the herder attacked Salihu with a cutlass.
“It was another farmer who witnessed the incident that rushed back home and raised alarm. People mobilised the injured Salihu to the hospital in Gadabuke but he later died.
“The death of Salihu infuriated the people of the community. So they mobilised and retaliated by killing a herder.”
City & Crime further learnt that the reprisal killing of the herder resulted in heightened tension in the community following which soldiers and policemen who were alerted stormed the community to douse the tension.
Meanwhile, the Chairman Toto LGA, Aliyu Abdullahi Tashas, confirmed the incident through telephone conversation with our reporter on Wednesday, saying he drafted security agents to the community upon receiving information about the incident.
He said his council led a delegation that comprised security agents, as well as the Fulani ardo in Gadabuke and Toto to commiserate with both families of the slain farmer and herder.
The chairman, who condemned the killings, appealed to farmers and herders to sheath their swords in the overall interest of peace in the area, while assuring that he had ordered the security agents to go after the perpetrators and arrest them.