The Kebbi State Police Command has confirmed that three individuals had been killed and a police inspector injured throughout violence alongside the Besse–Shanga riverine axis of the state.
The command mentioned the incident adopted rumours of cattle rustling by suspected Lakurawa terrorists and an impending assault, prompting the mobilisation of native vigilantes referred to as Yan Sakai.
The police spokesperson, SP Bashir Usman, disclosed this on Tuesday whereas reacting to a viral video exhibiting residents fleeing affected communities in direction of Koko city.
Usman mentioned the violence occurred on October 22, when armed Yan Sakai members reportedly stormed Samanaji Market and killed three Fulani residents.
He mentioned three different individuals had been injured, whereas a police inspector deployed with different officers to revive peace additionally sustained accidents.
According to the spokesperson, subsequent reprisal assaults in Karwa, Tunga Hako and Buma villages led to the burning of a number of Fulani settlements and the displacement of residents.
“The present displacement is an offshoot of subsequent reprisal showdowns across Karwa, Tunga Hako and Buma villages where several Fulani settlements were burnt,” Usman mentioned.
He mentioned the Commissioner of Police, CP Umar Hadejia, had deployed further police personnel and joint safety groups to the affected areas to forestall additional violence.
Usman added that investigations into the incident had been ongoing.
The command urged residents to stay calm and keep away from spreading unverified data able to worsening the safety scenario.
The police didn’t disclose the variety of displaced residents or the extent of harm brought on by the violence.
