A group of Fulani herders got more than what they bargained for when an alleged deal to graze their cattle on a farm at Lambata in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) after the harvest of crops, went sour.
Reports said tension pervaded the area at about 3.30pm on Saturday, March 13, when the Fulani herders who claimed to have reached an agreement with a farmer identified as Sunday Ali, to allow their cattle to feed on the waste and cassava leaves after he had harvested his crops, went berserk when their cows laid dead on the farm one after the another moments after grazing.
The police said the herders claimed to have reached an understanding with the farmer to gather to assemble the shafts and cassava leaves at a spot for their cattle to feed on, but suffered a misfortune as over 10 cows dropped dead shortly after grazing.
Irked by the situation, the herders reportedly attacked the famer, Sunday Ali, inflicting grievous injuries on him, even as other farmers in the area joined in a fierce battle in which dangerous weapons were said to have been used.
Scudnews learnt that apart from the farmer, three Fulani herders whose names were given as Yusuf Sule, Yusuf Gambo and Lawal Umar, also sustained serious injuries in the clash, and were all rushed for treatment at the Kwali General Hospital by a team of policemen drafted to the scene following a report on the incident by Daniel Yathu, a resident of Ija Pada, Kwali.
Sources at the Kwali General Hospital told our reporter that all the injured persons were referred to the Specialist Hospital at Gwagwalada, also in the FCT, due to the gravity of the injuries.
As of the time of filing this report, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Bala Ciroma, could not be reached for comments as calls put across his mobile phone did not connect.
However, a senior police officer who craved anonymity confirmed the incident, assuring that investigation is ongoing.
