10 injured as 3-year farmland dispute erupts into violence in Sokoto

From Bashir Rabe Mani, Sokoto

A lingering agrarian dispute reportedly turned violent on Tuesday, leaving at least 10 people injured after residents of two neighboring communities clashed in the Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
​The violent confrontation involved residents of Chirif Magaji and Chirif Dikko communities, who have been locked in a bitter disagreement over the ownership and use of a shared farmland for nearly three years.
​The long-standing tension boiled over into open violence, resulting in multiple casualties. While no deaths have been officially confirmed, emergency responders noted that the injured are currently receiving medical attention following the escalation.
A security source told reporters that the dispute centres on which community has the legitimate right to cultivate the land.
According to the source, the local government had previously intervened and brokered a peace agreement, under which the farmland was shared between the two communities.
“Earlier today, we received a distress call reporting a violent confrontation between the communities. Security personnel were immediately deployed to restore order,” the source said.
The source explained that the violence erupted when residents of one community went to clear the disputed farmland, only to encounter an ambush allegedly laid by members of the rival community armed with Dane guns and machetes.
“The attackers opened fire, injuring six people. Upon learning of the incident, members of the affected community mobilised and launched a reprisal attack, during which four people from the opposing community were injured,” the source added.
All injured victims were evacuated to medical facilities for treatment.
The security source dismissed reports circulating on social media suggesting that the incident was a bandit attack, stressing that the violence stemmed solely from the longstanding land dispute.
No fatalities had been recorded as of the time of filing this report.
“Some of the victims sustained gunshot wounds, while others suffered machete cuts. Some are receiving treatment at the General Hospital in Rabah, while those with more severe injuries have been referred to the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital,” the source said.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Rabah Local Government Area, Hon. Yusuf Muhammad Rabah, said the situation had been brought under control.
“It is true that the incident occurred, but we have been able to calm the situation,” he stated, declining to provide further details on the number of casualties.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, said he had yet to receive a formal briefing on the incident but promised to obtain details from the Divisional Police Officer and provide an update.