The source said the assailants injured many others, yet, security agencies have taken no action.
Residents of Buni Yadi Community in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State have raised the alarm over persistent and constant attacks and killings in the community by alleged armed herdsmen.
According to the residents, the assailants are backed by the leaders of the herders’ union under the umbrella of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN).
A source in the community told SaharaReporters that the suspected herders, armed with spears, arrows and other weapons invaded the community last week and killed a farmer. The source said the assailants injured many others, adding that though the police and other security agencies in the area were aware of the incident, they did not take any action.
The source said while the community was still mourning the deceased and the injured persons were still receiving treatment, the suspected herders attacked the community again on Saturday at about noon and killed another farmer identified as Abdulkarim Manu.
The source said the assailants injured many others, yet, security agencies have taken no action.
Another source said during Saturday’s attack, the youths of the community decided to repel the herders and while the chaos was going on, leaders of MACBAN escorted by personnel of the Nigeria Police Force stormed the community and took the herders away while paying no attention to the residents killed and injured.
“Manu was working on his farm with his workers when the herdsmen tried to get into his farm with their animals (cow, sheep and goat). He tried to stop them but they refused and they told him that they bought the whole of Buni Yadi farms from our leaders.
“He insisted that they should leave him in peace to continue harvesting his beans with his workers but they began to shoot them with arrows. The deceased told his workers to run for their lives and he too wanted to run but he was hit in the head by an arrow and they cut him with a cutlass. He died instantly.
“They also burnt the tricycles that were being used to move the farm produce and they continued to pursue other farmers from their farmland while they were harvesting.
“Even today (Sunday), some people from Hayin Dogo Ward were wounded by them (the herdsmen), yet, up till now, no response nor actions from the security agencies that will help the farmers,” one of the sources said.
But when contacted, the state police public relations officer (PPRO), ASP Dungus Abdulkarim, who confirmed Saturday’s incident said that the police have taken over the matter and that investigation has commenced.
“What is happening as I called now, already, the police have taken over the matter and there was a deliberation ongoing now in Gujba, that is in Buni Yadi. It is like a deliberation between Miyetti Allah, the farmers and the local government chairman.
“They are trying to reach a solution. There is this incident that occurred, yes, there is one person who lost his life as a result of the incident yesterday but currently, the command has already taken all into cognizance and an investigation has already started. Maybe after the investigation, we will get back to you with more details,” Abdulkarim told SaharaReporters on the phone.