By David Okpashi
LAFIA —An argument between locals and herders has reportedly claimed the life of one person while a pastor with Baptist Church has been severely injured in Nasarawa sttate.
The incident is said to have occured in Boher village of Akwanga local government area of Nasarawa State.
According to an eye witness account, the incident happened because an argument ensued when the youths of the area accosted the herders passing through Ningo community square with their cows
The source who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent that “the herders were on their way from Keffi passing through Boher village square, when some youths seek to know why the herdsmen should pass through the village square, and the three Fulani herders were said to have told the youths that they were not grazing, but just passing by”
“When the argument became hotter, two of the Fulani boys left with their cows, one of them was left behind engaging the youths in a very fierce arguments while the reverend in charge of Baptist Church, Boher, tried to intervened and the Fulani herder then brought out his sword and inflicted a deep cut on the reverend’s head”
“So when the reverend fall down with blood gushing out, the youths concluded that the reverend was dead which attracted the attention of more villagers especially youths who came out in their number and lynched the Fulani boy with machete and killed him instantly” the source said.
It was however gathered that one of the youths of Boher village had earlier before the crisis offered one of the three Fulani boys water to drink as well as exchanging pleasantries, before the unfortunate incident happened.
Youth leader of Ningo/Boher electoral ward, Steven Bello, who confirmed the development, expressed regret about the incident and called on both his community and Fulani, not to take laws into their hands.
Bello, who appealed for calm, thanked the traditional ruler of Mada nation, Samson Gamu Yare, Security and the chairman of Akwanga local government area for their swift response to avert the situation from escalating.
As at the time of filling this report, the reverend is still receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital, while the corpse of the late herder has since been buried according to Islamic rites at the Muslim cemetery in Akwanga, in the presence of his relatives.
When contacted, Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Nansel Ramhan, told our correspondent that he was in a workshop, saying “I have not been briefed. So, I can’t comment on the issue for now”.
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