Herdsmen attack four Jigawa communities, police sue for peace

The Jigawa Police Command has confirmed herdsmen attacks on four communities in Birninkudu, Dutse and Kiyawa Local Government Areas of the state.

According to a statement issued on Saturday by the command’s spokesman, Lawal  Adams, eight people were injured in the attacks and have been hospitalised at the Dutse General Hospital.

The statement read, “Information revealed that herdsmen in large numbers armed with bows and arrows, matchets and sticks invaded Baranda village and attacked the villagers.

“The villagers rose up in defence of themselves, resulting in the injuries of eight of them. They were rushed to the Dutse General Hospital for medical attention.

“In his efforts for community engagement, conflict resolution and peacebuilding in Dutse emirate and the state as a whole, the Jigawa State Police Commissioner, Ahmed T. Abdullahi, alongside Squadron Commander 35PMF Dutse, Area Commander Dutse, and Divisional Police Officers of Dutse and Kiyawa Divisions visited four affected villages of Kalai, Waza, Baranda and Katanga in Dutse, Kiyawa and Birnin Kudu Local Government Areas over the recent hostilities between farmers and herders, where scores of people were injured and farmlands destroyed.”

Adams said the Commissioner of Police had a meeting with the herders and farmers on the need for synergy, tolerance, and mutual understanding and also on the need to avoid taking laws into their own hands.

“The Commissioner of Police interacted with the major stakeholders of both herders and farmers on the need for collaboration, synergy, tolerance, and understanding of each other and also on the need to avoid taking laws into their own hands and to report any wrongdoing of mischief, encroachment of cattle route and others offences to the nearest Police Station or other security agencies for immediate action,” it added.

This came barely one week after a grand ceremony was held at Kabak village in Kirikasamma local government area by the Jigawa State Government to celebrate the peaceful return and confidence between herdsmen and farmers in the State.