Village Head, 14 Others Killed In Kebbi Ethnic Clash

Fifteen people, including a traditional ruler, have been killed in a clash between Fulani and Kambari people in Lafagu Village of Bagudo local government area of Kebbi State.

The slain village head was identified as Alhaji Saidu Mujeli.

The victim’s eldest son, Malam Idris Saidu, told LEADERSHIP that the killers, who were Kambari, attacked Lafagu Village and Buya communities at night, killing 15 people, “including my father, Alhaji Saidu Mujeli and burnt his house.”

Saidu said the assailants came in large numbers and with sophisticated weapons during the night attack.
Though there was no official statement from the police on the incident, in an interview with BBC Hausa, the commissioner of police in Kebbi State, Umar Muhammad Hadejia, said the attack occurred on Sunday night between the two ethnic groups. Hadejia revealed that the crisis started when two people from Lagos, who had only gone to sell their goods in the market, were attacked by a group of Fulani, who alleged that they stole and killed their people.

He said thereafter, another set from the Kambari group, in retaliation, allegedly attacked the Fulani in the night at Lahagu village, killing the village head and 14 others.

According to Hadejia, the attackers, after the disastrous act, burnt down the house of the late village head and fled.

“At present, we have arrested six suspects in connection with the killings, three are at the Kaoje CID office, and another three at the Birnin Kebbi CID,” Hadejia said.

“But normalcy has since returned to the village following the dispatch of the strong security personnel to ensure peace reigns in Lafagu and Bagudo local government axis,” he added.

Governor Nasir Idris, who is out of the state, has condemned the unfortunate incident through his media aide.

Idris, however, sympathised and also condoled with the family of the late village head of Lafagu and the other people who lost their lives in both Lafagu and Buya communities.

He noted that the Security Forces have already besieged the areas in order to ensure absolute peace and stop another reprisal attack.