Two killed, 1,500 displaced in Abuja communal clash

A clash between Fulani herdsmen and indigenous Gwari at Gwako, Gwagwalada Local Government, Federal Capital Territory, on Saturday claimed two lives, with no fewer than 1,500 persons displaced.

Our correspondents learnt that the fight resulted from an argument over the encroachment on farmland by a herd of cattle.

It took the intervention of the FCT Administration, the National Emergency Management Agency and security personnel to prevent the fight from degenerating.

NEMA Public Relations Officer, Yishua Shuaibu, confirmed that two lives were lost in a statement on Sunday.

He said, “The prompt intervention of the two agencies and the police, civil defence corp and military personnel curtailed the crisis, which started on Saturday as a result of encroachment of herd of cattle on farmland in the area.

Director-General of the agency, Alhaji Muhammad Sani-Sidi, appealed to the warring parties to live peacefully and eschew any form of violence.

While confirming that two lives were lost and 27 communities affected, Sani-Sidi said, “Over 1,500 Internally Displaced Persons are currently squatting in a temporary camp on the permanent campus of the University of Abuja in Gwagwalada area.”

Minister of FCT, Bala Muhammad, who visited the scene of the incident appealed for calm, promising that the government would address the causes of the crisis so that the displaced persons could return to their homes.

He asked NEMA to provide more amenities for the victims in camp as he constituted an emergency team for conflict resolution and relief distribution to the affected communities.