No fewer than eight people have been killed following a clash between farmers and herders in Gulma town, Argungu Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

The violence reportedly erupted after a herder allegedly stabbed a farmer to death on his farmland, triggering a reprisal attack by members of the farming community on Fulani settlements in the area.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Bashir Usman, said the clash occurred at about 3 p.m. on Monday and claimed eight lives.

“The incident was a reprisal attack following the stabbing of a farmer by a herder. We are currently in control of the situation, and eight people lost their lives,” he said.

Usman said security operatives rescued four persons during the violence and took them to hospital for treatment, adding that they had since been discharged.

He said normalcy had been restored in the area, while security personnel had been deployed to maintain law and order.

The police spokesman urged residents to remain peaceful, cooperate with security agencies and avoid taking the law into their own hands.

A source familiar with the incident said the crisis stemmed from a dispute between the deceased farmer and the herder over a cow whose leg was allegedly broken while the farmer was trying to chase the animals away from his farmland.

According to the source, the herder later confronted the farmer over the incident, and during the altercation allegedly stabbed him to death, sparking retaliatory attacks that escalated into communal violence.

Security operatives have intercepted a cache of arms and ammunition allegedly destined for criminal elements operating within and around Kogi State, leading to the arrest of three suspects.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday by the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo.

According to the statement, the operation was carried out through a joint effort involving local security operatives under the Kogi State security architecture, Hybrid Forces operating under the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, and the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army.

The state government said intelligence reports alerted security agencies to the movement of arms and ammunition allegedly intended for delivery to criminal groups, with a Golf 2 vehicle identified as the means of transportation.

Acting on the intelligence, security agencies reportedly coordinated surveillance efforts across state boundaries and worked with the Sokoto State Government and security agencies in the state to monitor the suspects.

The statement disclosed that three suspects were arrested in Sokoto State after being placed under covert surveillance for more than two weeks.

According to the government, preliminary investigations have yielded useful intelligence, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the alleged arms trafficking network.

Security operatives later intercepted the weapons consignment and impounded the vehicle allegedly used in transporting the items in Kabba, Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Recovered items included two AK-47 rifles, several AK-47 magazines, 67 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, two pistols, 12 rounds of pistol ammunition and military uniforms.

The government said intelligence reports linked the arms movement to alleged efforts by criminal groups to rearm following recent security setbacks and increased security operations in parts of the state.

According to the statement, security agencies had intensified intelligence gathering, surveillance and collaboration with other agencies following reports of possible attempts by criminal groups to regroup and acquire new weapons.

The government commended security agencies involved in the operation, including the Department of State Services, DSS, Hybrid Forces under ONSA and the Nigerian Army, describing the operation as a result of intelligence-led security efforts.

The Niger State Police Command has confirmed that no case of abduction was recorded during a suspected bandit attack on a police outpost in Zugurma Village, Mashegu Local Government Area of the state.
SP Wasiu Abiodun, the command’s spokesperson, confirmed the development while speaking with newsmen on Monday in Minna.

Abiodun said the incident occurred at about 4:30 p.m. on Saturday when suspected armed bandits blocked the Mokwa–New Bussa Road, invaded the village, and attacked the police outpost.

He said a joint security team comprising relevant security agencies responded promptly to a distress call, forcing the attackers to flee into the Ibbi Forest.

“There was no case of abduction during the incident,” he said.

The police spokesperson assured residents that security operatives were on the trail of the fleeing suspects.

He added that further developments would be communicated as investigations and security operations progressed.