How Suspected Herdsmen Killed A Farmer At Wedding Ceremony In Nasarawa Community

Solomon Yusuf, a Nigerian farmer in the Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, has been killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

According to a statement signed by the Secretary of Gbagyi Cultural Renaissance Foundation Musa Emmanuel-Dnasuwa on Saturday, the deceased farmer, Solomon Yusuf, was said to be attending a wedding ceremony in the Rakpami community in the LGA when the suspected herdsmen stormed the area and attacked him.

The statement reads, “The attention of the Gbagyi Cultural Renaissance Foundation has been drawn to the activities of some disgruntled Fulani herdsmen who are poised on distorting the relative peace enjoyed by the good people of Toto LGA.

“These callous people have continued unabated to kill and maim people at will. They destroy farmer’s crops with impunity and at the slightest provocation, threaten the life of whoever cares to confront them.

“The uncultured and uncivil behavior of these herdsmen has once again, heightened the security concerns in Toto LGA.

“Their latest victim is the ill-fated Solomon Yusuf, who was gruesomely murdered in cold blood by the assailants at Rakpami on Saturday, July 1, 2023, during a wedding ceremony, for reasons only known to them.

“Though we learnt that a suspect was arrested by the community vigilante and thereafter handed over to the police, we are watching keenly to see as the law takes its course.”

The statement added that Emmanuel-Dnasuwa expressed gratitude to the Osu Yelwa, HRH Musa Abu-Shekwo, whose prompt intervention, doused the tension and prevented the youths of the area from taking laws into their hands.

He appealed to the Executive Chairman of Toto LGA, Hon. Aliyu Abdullahi-Tashas, and Governor Abdullahi Sule to work in collaboration with the security agencies towards ensuring that measures are put in place to forestall any further breakdown of law and order in the area.

“We want to put the government on notice that our people have taken enough of these excesses. Despite the maturity and a sense of decorum expressed by the Gbagyi people for the sake of peace, the Fulani herdsmen have mistaken it for weakness and often take advantage of our peaceful nature.

“We appeal that the government should do something urgently to address the issue so that the situation will not escalate beyond control. We are known as peace-loving people and we hope to maintain our reputation,” the statement added.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Ramhan Nansel, said the command was yet to receive official information on the matter.

“We are yet to receive official information on the alleged killing of the man by herdsmen in the area. But I want to assure all residents of Nasarawa State that the Commissioner of Police, Maiyaki Baba, is working tirelessly to make the state safe for every one of us,” he said.