A violent clash between farmers and herders in Dogon Duste, a border community between Nasarawa and Toto Local Government Areas of Nasarawa State, has left three people dead.
The Nasarawa State Police Commissioner, CP Umar Nadada, disclosed the incident on Thursday in Lafia, revealing that the clash occurred on Monday, November 18, around 4:30 pm.
According to Nadada, the divisional police officer in the area received a distress report about the violence.
Upon arrival at the scene, officers discovered two bodies on the farm and four injured individuals, who were rushed to a nearby primary healthcare center for treatment.
A subsequent search in the surrounding area led to the discovery of a third body in the bush.
The police have since restored normalcy to the community and launched an investigation to identify those responsible for the violence.
CP Nadada emphasized the importance of cooperation between residents and security agencies in addressing the issue and preventing future clashes.
“We are working closely with the community to apprehend those responsible and bring them to justice.
The protection of lives and property is a collective responsibility,” Nadada stated.
Highlighting the police command’s proactive approach to security, Nadada pointed out the success of a collaborative policing strategy in the state. “Nasarawa is one of the most peaceful states in the country due to our partnership with local communities and the support of the state government,” he added.
Farmers and herders in Nigeria have been a long-standing issue, often fueled by disputes over land, grazing rights, and water resources.
These conflicts have resulted in significant loss of lives and property, with efforts to resolve the underlying issues proving challenging.
The recent incident in Dogon Duste serves as a reminder of the need for sustainable solutions to address the root causes of these conflicts, ensuring peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders in affected communities.