Fulani Community Razed Over Killing Of Farmer In Kwara
By Adedayo Said
One person has been killed and another seriously injured in a communal clash between Fulani and locals in Eshijiko, Pada district, Pategi Local Government Area of Kwara State.
It was gathered that the incident, which occurred on Sunday, left several Fulani displaced as they fled the community in fear of reprisal attack.
A source who spoke on the issue attributed the incident to an altercation between a farmer, Usman Baba, and some Fulani herders.
“The issue was between a farmer, Usman Baba who met some herders on his farm at night and told them to leave.
“The situation degenerated, leading to the butchering of the farmer, who later died. One of the Fulani sustained hand and head injuries,” the source added.
A security source told our correspondent that the Fulani settlement (ruga) was “burnt to ashes by the villagers in a suspected revenge mission over the killing of the farmer.”
The Sarkin Fulani of Ilorin East, Alhaji Idris Ali, said over 1,000 Fulani have been displaced.
“Our position after the report of the killing of the farmer was for security agencies to be allowed to do their job and bring whoever is found culpable to book.
“We were surprised with the latest development of taking laws into their hands,” he said.
On his part, one of the Fulani leaders in Kwara, Alhaji Jao Yahaya, said about 500 houses were destroyed, with several hundred people displaced.
“Ten classroom blocks of the nomadic school for our children, maize, guinea corn, yam, rice, cassava, motorcycles, and several cows worth over N50 million were lost to the incident,” he said.
According to him, the affected settlement had been in existence for more than 47 years, and they had been living peacefully with their host communities.
He said the Fulani are calling on the state government and security agencies to urgently come to their aid as they are now suffering from homelessness and insecurity in the area.
When contacted, the lawmaker representing Patigi constituency at the state assembly, Hon Adam Rufai, said, “I can’t speak on that incident now because I am at a fidau for the late House leader, Hon Magaji Olawoyin.
However, the spokesman of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) in Kwara State, Olasunkanmi Ayeni, confirmed the incident.
“After the death of the farmer, the Fulani settlement was completely razed, with several cows, foodstuffs, and properties destroyed in the process,” Ayeni said.
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