At least six people were killed, and several others injured, when a group of angry youths attacked a Fulani community in Augie Local Government Area of Kebbi State on Sunday evening.
The violent assault came after reports surfaced alleging that Fulani residents were involved in recent raids carried out by bandits in the area.
The violence was sparked when a survivor of a bandit attack on Friday identified some Fulani faces among the assailants, who are locally known as “Lakurawa.” The survivor’s testimony enraged local youths, leading them to take matters into their own hands.
They stormed the Fulani community, launching a brutal reprisal attack that resulted in multiple deaths and injuries.
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Nafiu Abubakar, the spokesperson for the Kebbi State Police Command, confirmed the incident on Monday, acknowledging that it was indeed a retaliatory strike by the youths.
“We have deployed personnel to the area to calm the situation,” Abubakar said, urging restraint as authorities worked to prevent further escalation.
This attack adds to a growing list of clashes between Fulani herdsmen and local farming communities in Kebbi State.
Recently, two farmers were killed in a similar conflict in Giromasa village, located in Bagudo Local Government Area. The recurring violence between these groups has raised concerns about the fragile security situation in the state, as tensions continue to rise over banditry and land disputes.
The ongoing crisis has placed a strain on relations between ethnic groups, with both Fulani and local communities grappling with the impact of the violence. Local authorities are under increasing pressure to address the root causes of these conflicts and restore peace in the region.