Many feared killed as herdsmen ravage Adamawa

Some residents and farmers of local communities in Kukowa and Shuwa Ka’ala areas of Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State as well as herdsmen were feared killed on Saturday, following a clash between the two sides.

Sunday Tribune learnt that trouble started when herdsmen, attracted by the farmers’ harvests, invaded farmlands of the residents.

It will be recalled that the dry season has set in most areas in the Northern part of the country.

Sources said that the herdsmen swooped on the farmers who were harvesting their farm produce, but that the farmers repelled them.

However, the herdsmen regrouped and attacked the farmers, resulting in the death of some people, including the herdsmen.

No official figures were available as of the time of going to press.

However, a resident, who identified himself as Yusuf Wumanyi, said the harvest by farmers attracted the herdsmen who had been indiscriminately entering farms belonging to people of Kukowa down to Shuwa Ka’ala where they met stiff resistance.

zWumanyi revealed further that the herdsmen, who were well-armed, however, got more than they bargained for at Shuwa Ka’ala village, where the people chased them away, adding that no lives were lost in that clash.

He, however, said many farmers sustained various degrees of injuries, especially people from Shuwa Ka’ala who were rushed to Hong General Hospital.

Another eyewitness from Shuwa, Sani Ahmed, said: “This morning (Saturday), they (herdsmen) attacked and robbed a man who went to the farm to bring home his harvest. He returned and had barely informed the community members of what happened to him when we saw them coming from all angles.

“Our local vigilantes quickly mobilised themselves and put up a resistance and were able to repel them. There were casualties on both sides, but I cannot ascertain how many people were affected.”

Ahmed, however, told Sunday Tribune that the military had intervened in the clash, hoping that it would be brought under control.

The spokesman of Adamawa Police Command, Suleiman Nguroje, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the development, but said he was waiting for an official report from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Hong Police Command.