Tension in Bauchi Community as Farmer-Herder Clash Turn Deadly

The Bauchi State Police Command has confirmed a violent clash between a herder and a farmer in Bogoro Local Government Area, which resulted in the death of a farmer and the killing of several livestock.

In a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Chief superintendent of Police  CSP Ahmed Wakil, the incident occurred when the victim, identified as Irmiya Yohanna, went to his farm on the outskirts of Bogoro and did not return home. A search was conducted, and his lifeless body was later discovered on the farm.

Upon receiving the report, a Police team led by the Divisional Police Officer,  Fitoka Golda, moved to the scene and evacuated the body to Bogoro General Hospital, where he was confirmed dead.

Sources in the community say the dispute turned tragic when the herder reportedly killed the farmer during an altercation over the destruction of crops.

Security operatives were said to have rushed to the scene, where they recovered the lifeless body of the farmer who was confirmed dead. 

In a bid to control the situation, security personnel also took custody of the herder’s cattle and brought them to the nearest police station. But what followed added more tension to the already fragile atmosphere.

Angered by the killing, some youths in the area stormed the police station and allegedly attacked the seized cattle, killing an unspecified number of them.

Women and youths took to the streets in protest, demanding justice and decrying the repeated cases of clashes between farmers and herders in the area.

Efforts to reach the Divisional Police Officer of Bogoro LGA and the State Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil, were unsuccessful as at the time of filing this report. However, local sources confirm that the situation has now been brought under control.

This marks the third reported clash involving farmers and herders In Bauchi state within a short span, with each incident leaving behind a trail of tension, destruction, and loss of lives.