The police in Gwagwalada (FCT), Abuja, have confirmed that four
people were killed and 19 others injured in a clash between Gwari
farmers and Fulani herdsmen in Paiko, near Gwagwalada, on Thursday 5
June.
Divisional Police Officer, Patrick Daaor, told NAN that two persons died at the scene, while two others died at the hospital.
Daaor said the quick intervention of the police helped in controlling the clash.
Chairman,
University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Gwagwalada, Medical
Advisory Committee, Dr Haruna Abubakar, also confirmed the casualties.
NAN
learnt that some Fulani herdsmen allegedly entered the farm of a Gwari
man with their flock on Thursday and that the cattle destroyed the
farmer’s crops.
Some witnesses said that the farmer’s kinsmen
mobilised and attacked the herdsman, insisting that the “herdsman took
their cows into the farm of our townsman, the cows ate up his crops.
The witnesses said: “When he tried to complain, the herdsman challenged him.
“The news got to us in the town and some youths mobilised themselves and decided to take revenge on any Fulani man they saw.
“One of the Fulanis ran into the mosque, he was followed and was killed there.”
NAN learnt that no fewer than four houses were burnt.
The
Chairman of the council, Alhaji Abubakar Jibrin-Giri, who visited the
scene of the clash and the hospital, described the development as
unfortunate.
He said the council would assist the displaced victims and those hospitalised, and urged the parties to live peacefully.
Jibrin-Giri said that security personnel had been drafted to the area to ensure peace.
“Ninety per cent of Fulanis are farmers, and so, they should know the importance of farming”.
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