Clashes between Fulani herdsmen militia and local farmers in two villages in Niger State in Central Nigeria has left at least 10 people dead.
The villages where the clashes occurred are Bokuta village in Bosso Local Government Area and Tungan Malam village in Paikoro LGA. According to news reports, 6 people were killed in Bokuta while 4 were killed in the Tangan Malam clash.
An eyewitness told Punch that the clash at Bokuta was a result of herdsmen who had invaded a farm in the village with their cattle on Thursday, July 7, 2016.
The result was a scuffle between farmers in the area and the invaders where one herdsman was killed.
The Fulani herdsmen launched a reprisal attack in which 5 farmers were shot dead and it took the intervention of the military for calm to be restored to the area.
The clash at Tungan Malam started from a similar issue where a Fulani herdsman led his cattle into a farm destroying root crops. According to reports, the vandalised farm is a large one where maize, sorghum, yam, and soya beans were being grown.
The Fulani herdsmen killed one farmer and in a reprisal attack, the farmers went after and killed three herdsmen.
Police spokesperson in Niger State, ASP James Bala confirmed the two clashes and said that two suspects have been arrested over the incidents.
These attacks is part of what appears to be a renewed wave of violence in Central Nigeria due to the activities of Fulani herdsmen and their militia arm.
