17 Killed, Dozens Injured as Farmer-Herder Clashes Escalate in Yobe and Taraba
At least 17 people have been confirmed dead and several others injured in separate but related farmer-herder clashes that rocked communities in Yobe and Taraba States between May 12 and 14, 2025, PRNigeria reports.
In Yobe State, a confrontation over farmland trespass in Nangere Local Government Area turned deadly after a Fulani herder reportedly led his livestock into a farmer’s land. The dispute escalated quickly when Babayo Maina Osi, the landowner, was shot in the forehead with an arrow during an altercation.
Zagazola reports that, tensions flared into full-blown violence between the two sides, resulting in the death of 35-year-old Usman Mohammed, a resident of Chikuriwa village, who succumbed to arrow wounds at the General Hospital in Nangere. Security forces intervened promptly, recovering two cows and 29 goats and rams allegedly seized by farmers. Authorities have since invited leaders from both communities for dialogue and are continuing investigations.
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Meanwhile, in Taraba State’s Karim Lamido Local Government Area, no fewer than 16 people lost their lives in a series of retaliatory attacks between Fulani pastoralists and local farming communities. The violence, which affected villages such as Mungadosso, Bandawa, Wuro Guga, and the remote Fitowa bush, began with three separate raids allegedly carried out by suspected herders, leaving 10 people dead and several homes burnt.
In retaliation, armed youths from Mungadosso stormed the Fitowa bush on motorcycles and reportedly opened fire on herders grazing cattle, killing six. The reprisal attacks have forced many families to flee, amid heightened fears of further escalation. Several huts and homes were torched in the aftermath of the clashes.
The latest clashes reflect deep-seated animosity between the two groups over access to land and water resources, exacerbated by poor conflict resolution mechanisms. Local authorities and security agencies have urged calm and called for immediate de-escalation through sustained dialogue and increased patrols in identified flashpoints.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with rising cases of communal violence, the recurring farmer-herder conflicts remain a major threat to peace and security, particularly in the agrarian and pastoral regions of the north.
By PRNigeria
