The Police Wednesday confirmed the return of normalcy to Barkuta village in Bosso local government area of Niger state after quelling the deadly inter- tribal war between indigenous Gagyi tribe and Fulani inhabitants in the area during which six persons lost their lives.
The war which broke out between the tribes on August 27, 2024 was reportedly ignited by the killing of a man, Alhaji Suleiman of Gbagyi origin by suspected Fulani herder during argument over destruction of his farm by cows.
The body of Suleiman was said to have been discovered by his family in the bush and that this fueled anger amongst the deceased kinsmen who launched attack on the adjourning Fulani settlement.
A witness account said five Fulanis were killed and several houses burnt before the arrival of police to the scene.
Confirming the incident in Minna Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Niger state Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said normalcy has returned to the area.
He said: “Consequently, this led to a little inter-tribal attack in the area and few persons lost their lives. However, the Area Commander, Bosso, ACP Galadima Lassa, led Police tactical teams including DPO Maikunkele to the area and normalcy has been restored while monitoring continues and effort to arrest the perpetrators of crime is ongoing as investigation into the unfortunate incident has commenced.”
He stated that on 27/08/2024 at about 0700hrs, report received indicated that one Alhaji Sule Moh’d of Barkuta Village, Bosso LGA, went to his farm with his son, and sighted some cattle in the farm, adding that he instructed his son to go home while he traced for the owner of the cattle.
“The Alhaji Moh’d didn’t return home which necessitated his family to search for him, and unfortunately, he was found dead in a river within the area suspected to have been killed by a yet to be identified person,” the PPRO stated.