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.
The Divisional Police Officer in the area, Mr Patrick Daaor, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday 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.
The 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.
He said that “90 per cent of the Fulanis are farmers, and so, they should know the importance of farming’’.
