Seven people lost their lives in a bloody clash between residents and herdsmen in Mera Village, following accusations of complicity in a recent Lakurawa bandits’ attack.
The incident occurred on Saturday night and spilled into Sunday afternoon, with tensions running high between the two groups.
According to local journalist Malam Jemilu Gulma,the herdsmen accused the Mera Villagers of betraying them, leading to the theft of their cattle. This allegation sparked a violent confrontation, resulting in the tragic loss of life.
The situation was brought under control thanks to the swift intervention of local authorities, including Augie Local Council Chairman Alhaji Yahaya Mohammed Augie, who reported the incident to the Emir.
The Emir then alerted security agencies, leading to the deployment of soldiers, police, civil defense, and local vigilantes to the area.
“As I speak to you now, there is heavy presence of soldiers, the Police, Civil Defence, the DSS and the local Vigilantes in every nook and cranny of the village, all in attempt to bring the ugly situation under control, and by the grace of God, the situation is firmly under control now,” he noted.
In the aftermath of the violence, donations have poured in to support the victims and their families, with over N90 million raised to date.
The authorities are working to address the underlying issues driving these conflicts and find lasting solutions.