Police officers injured farmers, herders clash, one suspect arrested

Keep up with the latest news and be part of our weekly giveaways and airtime sharing; follow our WhatsApp channel for more updates. Click to Follow us

Two police officers sustained injuries after an assault by suspected herders in Gulani Local Government Area of Yobe State.

In a statement issued by the state police spokesperson, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, the incident occurred on October 29 near Kojoli village when personnel from the Police Mobile Force (PMF) responded to a distress call concerning herders allegedly invading rice farms with their cattle.

“Community members reported that a group of herders had allegedly invaded rice farms with large herds of cattle, deliberately destroying crops,” the statement said.

The police team, led by the Unit Commander of 19 PMF, rushed to the scene but “were ambushed by the herders who opened fire using AK-47 rifles, bows and arrows, before fleeing into the bush.”

Two officers — Sergeant Abdullahi Aminu and Corporal Aliyu Suleiman — suffered machete wounds to their heads, arms, and legs.

“They were immediately evacuated to General Hospital, Bara, where they are currently receiving medical treatment,” the police said.

During the confrontation, one of the officers’ rifles was taken by the suspects, while another was retrieved. The police also recovered several cows belonging to the fleeing herders, which were later guided back to Kojoli village with assistance from local vigilantes.

A suspect identified as Mohammed Bello was apprehended “in possession of a blood-stained cutlass” and is currently aiding police investigations.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Emmanuel Ado, condemned the incident and reaffirmed the command’s dedication to upholding law and order.

“The Command will not tolerate violence, attacks on police personnel, destruction of farms, or criminal grazing,” CP Ado stated. “We are committed to peaceful coexistence and justice for all parties involved.”

He directed tactical teams to be deployed in the area, “to prevent escalation and maintain peace,” while urging both farmers and herders to report disputes early and avoid taking the law into their own hands.

Please don’t forget to “Allow the notification” so you will be the first to get our gist when we publish it. 
Drop your comment in the section below, and don’t forget to share the post.