Police in Nasarawa State said yesterday three people lost their lives in a clash between herders and farmers in Kokona local government area of the state.
However, locals said 12 people were killed when herders allegedly invaded Tattara Mada, Migini, Angwan Barau communities in a clash which was said to have started on Sunday.
According to the account by locals, the crisis started when a Fulani youth who was beaten for leading his herds to destroy a sugar cane plantation died at home a day later.
It was also gathered that tension heightened when altercation between another farmer and a group of herdsmen who also led their cattle to another plantation in a nearby community led to death of the farmer.
The herdsmen allegedly matcheted him to death following a quarrel that ensued over the development.
It was learnt that when the victim did not return from the farm on time, family members went in search of him only to discover his corpse in the plantation.
Those who went to the herders’ settlement to complain about the development were allegedly ambushed, while Tattara Mada, Migini and Angwan Barau communities were allegedly torched by the herders.
Houses and property worth millions of naira belonging to the locals were reportedly razed down during the attacks.
“As I speak to you, 11 corpses are in the mortuary at General Hospital Garaku, one was discovered this morning (Thursday) and some are nowhere to be found. Because they invaded our village on Tuesday and started shooting sporadically and people ran helter- skelter and they killed four persons.
“Four of the guys ambushed and killed by the herdsmen were those coming from Angwan Migini and Angwan Barau to see what happened in Tattara on Wednesday,” a local newspaper which broke the story quoted a source as saying.
But the state police command’s public relations officer, DSP Ramhan Nansel, said only one herder and two farmers were killed during the crisis.
He said the herder that was attacked by farmers for veering into the sugar cane plantation was taken by the police for treatment in a hospital but died later.
He told LEADERSHIP on phone yesterday that following the attack, the police had brokered a peace deal where parties from both sides were prevailed upon to remain calm.
He, however, said last Monday, there was an attack on a community which prompted the deployment of the police to the area.
“I can tell you authoritatively that one Fulani and two farmers were killed in the crisis and our people have evacuated the corpses, and as I talk to you, our men are stationed permanently in the area,” he said.
He said normalcy had since returned to the place.
Meanwhile, the member representing Karu/Keffi Keffi Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Gbefwi Jonathan Gaza, who visited Tattara Mada, decried the killing which he said was unnecessary.
He appealed to both herders and locals to sheath their swords and allow peace to reign in the area and the state at large.
Also, chairman of Kokona local government area, Hon. Awalu Adamu, said peace had returned to the area.
