Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Kebbi State Police Command has arrested four suspects in connection with a violent farmers-herders clash in Gulma Town, Argungu Local Government Area, which claimed the lives of eight people and left a trail of destruction earlier this week. The suspects are scheduled to be arraigned on charges of criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly, and culpable homicide.
The incident occurred on Monday, June 22, 2026, at approximately 3:00 p.m., when a herder, Yaron Buba Dogo, allegedly allowed his cattle to stray into the farmland of one Alhaji Aminu Ala, destroying crops. A confrontation ensued between the two men, during which the farmer was allegedly stabbed in the neck and died on the spot. The killing sparked outrage among some residents, who mobilised and attacked the herder, killing him and setting his body ablaze. The mob then launched further attacks on members of the affected community.
Despite efforts by security personnel to restore order, four additional persons were killed and their bodies burnt beyond recognition. Two more corpses were later recovered from a farmland on the outskirts of Gulma Town. The victims comprised one farmer and seven herders. A joint security team comprising the police and other security agencies was deployed to the area to forestall further breakdown of law and order. The state government also imposed a curfew on the affected community as part of measures to restore peace. Security operatives successfully rescued five persons, including a woman, who were trapped during the violence and evacuated them to the Argungu Divisional Police Headquarters for protection.
In an update on the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in Kebbi State, SP Bashir Usman, stated that four suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident. He identified the suspects as Adamu Madugu of Gulma, Musa Makera of Sauwa, Saidu Adamu of Sauwa, and Shafi'u Hamza of Gulma. According to him, they are scheduled to be arraigned before a competent court on charges of criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly, and culpable homicide. Usman noted that efforts were ongoing to arrest other suspects. "The command has intensified efforts to identify, arrest, and bring to justice all other persons linked to the incident who are currently at large," he said.
The Commissioner of Police in Kebbi State, Umar Hadejia, assured the families of the victims and the general public that the command will pursue the matter to its logical conclusion and ensure that all persons found culpable face the full weight of the law. He further urged residents to remain calm and law-abiding and to desist from taking the law into their own hands. "The command remains committed to maintaining peace, protecting lives and property, and ensuring justice for all affected persons," Usman concluded.
The clash underscores the perennial tensions between farming and herding communities in Nigeria's North-West, where competition over land and water resources often erupts into deadly violence. The Kebbi State Police Command has vowed to prosecute all those involved in the bloodshed, as investigations continue.
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