Eight persons have died in a clash between farmers and herders over alleged land encroachment in the Bayo Local Government Area of Borno state, police in the North East state have disclosed.
The Commissioner of Police, Abdu Umar, made the disclosure at a meeting with leaders of the farmer association and Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) on Friday in Maiduguri, the state capital.
He said the report indicated that violence erupted on November 30 over the alleged encroachment of farmlands and murder of a farmer by unidentified assailants in the area.
“Eight persons were killed, including children, while 47 houses and six motorcycles were burnt,” he said.
According to NAN, he said the police had restored normalcy to the area and arrested some suspects in connection with the disturbance. He added that the state government had provided relief items to the affected persons.
“This is a source of concern to the government and security agencies; the meeting aims to provide a lasting solution to the problem.
“At the end, we shall come up with modalities to check movement of wandering herders into the state, especially in areas that witnessed violence,” he said.
According to him, a committee will be set up to enhance surveillance and monitoring and promote peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders.
He said the committee members would comprise representatives of security agencies, farmers and herders associations.