Farmers-Herders Clash in Abuja Leaves Three Dead as Houses, Shops Burn

At least three people have reportedly been killed in a renewed farmers-herders clash in Paikon-Kore community, Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with several others injured and properties destroyed.

The violence, which reportedly began on Saturday afternoon and continued until Sunday morning, October 18, left houses, shops and a motorcycle burnt, while goods in the affected shops were destroyed.

However, another report put the death toll at five, with eyewitnesses saying both farmers and herders were among those killed. The exact number of casualties had yet to be officially confirmed as of the time of reporting.

A resident, Danlami Ibrahim, said the latest confrontation began after cattle allegedly entered a groundnut farm containing crops that were yet to be harvested.

According to him, the farm owner confronted the herders, leading to an argument that escalated into violence. One of the herders allegedly attacked a farmer with a cutlass, severing one of his hands.

The incident reportedly triggered anger among residents and led to retaliatory attacks in which three herders were said to have been killed. Several other people sustained injuries and were taken to hospitals in Gwagwalada for treatment.

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The Secretary of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Gwagwalada Area Council chapter, Mohammed Usman, confirmed that three herders had died, although he said he was still gathering information about the number of injured people.

Usman said he had informed the Gwagwalada Area Council chairman, Kasim Mohammed Ikwa, about the incident.

Ikwa visited the affected community on Sunday alongside the Divisional Police Officer, SP Aaron H. Kaura, and other security personnel. He condemned the violence and called on residents to remain calm.

The council chairman said a stakeholders’ meeting would be convened to address the crisis and identify ways to prevent further clashes. He urged farmers, herders, youths and community leaders to embrace dialogue and avoid retaliatory attacks.

Ikwa also advised farmers whose crops were damaged by cattle to report such incidents to security agencies rather than resort to self-help. He urged residents to cooperate with security personnel deployed to restore peace.

The FCT Police Command spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, had yet to publicly respond to enquiries about the incident as of the time of the report.

The latest violence follows previous confrontations in Paikon-Kore and neighbouring communities, including a clash in August that reportedly left a farmer with a severed hand and three other people with machete injuries.

Recurring disputes over cattle grazing, destruction of crops, access to farmland and grazing routes have fuelled tensions between farming and herding communities across parts of the FCT.

Herders have also complained about the encroachment of designated grazing areas by farms, housing estates and other developments, while farmers have repeatedly raised concerns about livestock entering their fields and destroying crops.

The Federal Government has identified the FCT as one of the priority areas for efforts to address farmers-herders conflicts. The Ministry of Livestock Development has also announced plans to work with the FCT Administration and pastoralist groups to rehabilitate grazing reserves and improve livestock management.

Security analysts have called for stronger early-warning systems, impartial law enforcement, compensation for damaged crops and effective mediation to prevent local disputes from escalating into deadly violence.

The latest clash has renewed concerns about the safety of rural communities around Abuja and the need for a lasting solution to recurring disputes between farmers and herders.