Eight Killed, Five Rescued as Farmers–Herders Clash Erupts in Kebbi Community

The Kebbi State Police Command has confirmed the death of eight persons following a violent farmers–herders clash in Gulma Town, Argungu Local Government Area of the state.

The incident, which occurred on Monday, June 22, 2026, also left five persons rescued by security operatives as tension escalated in the affected community.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bashir Usman, the violence was triggered when a herder, identified as Yaron Buba Dogo, allegedly allowed his cattle to stray into a farmland belonging to one Alhaji Aminu Ala, destroying crops in the process.

The situation reportedly degenerated into a confrontation during which the farmer was stabbed in the neck and killed.

Following the killing, an angry mob was said to have mobilised and attacked the herder, killing him and setting his body ablaze. The mob thereafter launched further attacks on members of the community, worsening the violence.

Despite the prompt intervention of security operatives, four more persons were killed during the chaos, with their bodies burnt beyond recognition. Two additional corpses were later recovered from a farmland outside Gulma Town, bringing the total death toll to eight.

The police said five persons, including a woman, were rescued from the scene and taken to safety at Argungu Police Station.

SP Usman stated that a joint security operation had since been deployed to the area to restore order, while the state government has imposed a curfew to prevent further escalation of hostilities.

He added that normalcy was gradually returning, with increased patrols and surveillance operations ongoing across Gulma and surrounding communities.

The Command confirmed that investigations have commenced to identify and arrest those responsible for the killings.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Umar M. Hadejia, urged residents to remain calm, law-abiding and avoid acts of reprisal, assuring that all those found culpable would be brought to justice.

He also called for continued cooperation between communities and security agencies to prevent a recurrence of such violent incidents.