Herdsmen attack rice farmers, cut off hand in kwara

Some suspected herdsmen have reportedly cut off the right hand of an angry rice farmer, Saheed Zakariyau, in Bindofu village, Lafiagi Emirate, in the Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The farmer, according to sources, was allegedly attacked on his farm in Bindofu village last Saturday after accusing the herdsmen of using their animals to destroy his farm.

It was gathered that the victim, in company of his colleagues, got to the farm on Saturday and discovered that the herdsmen grazed their cattle on his farm and destroyed the crops.

The farmer and his friends reportedly chased away the herdsmen.

However, one of the herders reportedly drew out a cutlass and chopped off the farmer’s hand.

A spokesperson for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Kwara State, Babawale Afolabi, said the incident happened on Democracy Day around 1pm.

He said, “One Mr Saheed Zakariyau, with his colleagues of Bindofu area, Lafiagi, came to the NSCDC office, Lafiagi division, and said they went to their farm around 9.30am. On getting there, they met a large herd of cattle and some Fulani herdsmen grazing on their rice farm.

“As they were trying to pursue the Fulani herdsmen and their cattle, one Fulani removed his cutlass and cut off his right hand and the Fulani ran away.”

Afolabi said the command had commenced investigation into the incident with a view to apprehending the suspects.