Yobe farmers in the Garin Mallam community clashed with suspected herders, while protecting their un-harvested farm produce of rice, beans and guinea corn. The bloody clash, which occurred at the weekend in the village, led to the death of a farmer and wounding several other residents and herders. Confirming the incident Monday in Damaturu, the state capital, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Dungus Abdulkarim disclosed that; “At about Fulani herders invaded to encroach farmlands in Garin Malam community in Jakusko Local Government Area of Yobe state. “They began to graze on un-harvested farmlands of rice, beans and guinea corn. The farmers suddenly intervened along with their local vigilantes and clashed in an exchange of bows and arrows shootings. “The arrow shootings between herders and farmers led to the death of a herder, while in action to graze their cattle.” According to him; the farmers and vigilantes intervened to take action; stop herders from further grazing on community un-harvested farmlands. He explained that the herders attacked the community, torching a house and farm produce of rice, beans and guinea corn, estimated at about N2 million. He however, noted that the police had brought the “bloody clash” under control, by arresting a few suspects. He said the wounded have been evacuated to the Federal Medical Centre, Nguru for treatments. According to him, the Police Commissioner, Yahaya Abubakar has deployed his men to prevent further escalations of clashes during the harvesting period. He added that the police organised a stakeholders’ meeting in communities of Geidam and Gujba LGAs to proactively tackle perennial pre-empted relationships between farmers and herders, while grazing on farmlands and around orchards
