At least 10 people were injured after residents of Chirif Magaji and Chirif Dikko communities in Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State clashed over a disputed farmland.
The two communities have reportedly been arguing over the ownership and use of the land for nearly three years, but the disagreement turned violent on Tuesday.
A security source quoted by Daily Trust said the conflict is about which community has the right to farm the land.
According to the source, local authorities had previously intervened and reached a peace deal that allowed both communities to share the farmland.
“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 started when members of one community went to clear the farmland and were allegedly ambushed by rivals 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 taken to hospital for treatment. The source dismissed social media reports claiming the incident was a bandit attack, insisting it was linked to the long-running land dispute.
No deaths had been recorded at the time of reporting.
Reports say 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.
Confirming the incident, the Rabah Local Government chairman, 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 said.
The spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufai, said he was yet to receive a formal briefing about the dispute.