2 Dead, 7 Injured As Herders Attack Community in Jigawa
By: Ahmed Aminu, Dutse
The Jigawa State Police Command has confirmed the killing of two persons when suspected herders launched a midnight attack on Dagiteri village in Birniwa Local Government Area of the state.
Speaking to the The Syndicate on Thursday in Dutse, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, SP Lawan Shi’isu-Adam, said seven people were injured in the incident which occurred on Wednesday.
“Two people were killed and seven others sustained various degrees of injuries when the attackers, armed with bows and arrows, struck unexpectedly at Dagiteri village,” he said, adding that the prompt response of a team of joint security personnel under Operation Salama, restored normalcy in the area.
He added that seven suspects have been arrested, while dangerous weapons including bows and arrows, cutlasses, mobile phones, and local charms were recovered from them.
Shi’isu-Adam said the suspects are currently being interrogated at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Dutse.
Findings by The Syndicate revealed that the attack was a retaliation to the killing of a herder, who was accused of theft in the village.
A resident of the area who pleaded anonymity, said trouble started when a group of criminals attempted to steal in the village.
“They were pursued by the villagers, and one of them was caught and killed,” he said.
He added that the following day, dozens of the attackers returned on motorcycles, armed with bows and arrows, cutlasses, and sticks, and launched a reprisal attack.
“They killed two men, Adda’u and Bola—both middle-aged—and injured several others, including an elderly couple. They also burnt one motorcycle and went away with another,” the source said.
According to him, the attackers were over 70 in number.
“The security here has collapsed. Criminal activities are increasing daily. They now come even in broad daylight to rob us of our livestock and motorcycles,” he lamented.
He appealed to Governor Umar Namadi, the Commissioner of Police, Birniwa local government council chairman and traditional leaders to urgently intervene to prevent further escalation of the crisis.
