3 hospitalised as farmers, herders clash in Niger

Three farmers, Ahmadu Sale, Yunusa Sale and Akilu Muntari, in Wushishi LGA of Niger State, have been hospitalised following machete wounds they sustained during a clash with suspected herders. One of the farmers, Mallam Bala Mahmud Egge, told City & Crime that the farmers were attacked with machetes by herders while trying to stop them […]

Three farmers, Ahmadu Sale, Yunusa Sale and Akilu Muntari, in Wushishi LGA of Niger State, have been hospitalised following machete wounds they sustained during a clash with suspected herders.

One of the farmers, Mallam Bala Mahmud Egge, told City & Crime that the farmers were attacked with machetes by herders while trying to stop them from encroaching into their rice farms.

“The incident happened in Wushishi Local Government Area between farmers and cattle rearers at Mailema farm area. The herders injured three of our farmers with cutlass and one is in a critical condition. The suspected herder that committed the crime has been arrested and is in police custody,” he said.

When contacted, the spokesman of the state police command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident but said only two farmers were injured.

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Abiodun said “An incident of farmer-herder clash was reported at Wushishi Div on 23rd November at about 1pm that, while one Ahmadu Sale (25) and one other were working on a rice farm in the area, two cattle rearers with their cows attempted to graze in the farm and in a bid to stop that by the farmers, the cattle rearers resisted and a fight ensued between them.

“In the process, one of the rearers, Ahmadu Hussain, 20, inflicted machete cuts on the two farmers, causing serious injuries. Police operatives of the Div moved to the scene, and the victims were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, while the said suspect, Ahmadu Hussain, was arrested.