The peaceful air in Gululu village, located between the Jahun and Miga local government areas of Jigawa State, was shattered last Friday as violence erupted between two ethnic communities—the Hausa and the Fulani. The ensuing clashes left 11 dead and 31 houses reduced to ashes, pushing the region to the brink of an unprecedented crisis. The tragic incident has sparked deep concerns about the fragility of peace in the state.
Eyewitnesses reported that the conflict began after a petty dispute over stolen goods, but quickly escalated into a deadly feud. Suleiman Abubakar Jahun, a Fulani elder, recounted the horrors he witnessed on the day of the attack. “I was at home when I received word that there was a fight between the Hausa and Fulani. Upon arriving at the scene, I saw innocent people, including children, being ruthlessly killed. I lost five of my own children in that senseless violence,” he recalled, his voice thick with grief.
Abubakar’s story is just one among many of those who lost family members in the massacre. He now finds himself responsible for 18 grandchildren after the deaths of his children. “This is beyond any words. I have no idea how to care for them all. We need help,” he said, tears in his eyes.
Another heartbroken victim, Amadu Garba Jahun, shared a similar tale of loss. He, too, lost a child in the violence. Yet, his message was one of peace and justice, not vengeance. “We are not asking for revenge,” Garba said, standing tall despite the devastation surrounding him. “All we want is for the government to do its job. Justice must be served.”
The ethnic violence has now captured the attention of both local and state authorities. The Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has stepped in, offering temporary relief to the victims. Dr. Haruna Mairiga, Chairman of SEMA, confirmed that the agency had distributed 25 bags of rice and N500,000 in aid to the affected families. Additionally, five bags of rice and N100,000 were allocated to families who lost children. Mairiga also attributed the deadly conflict to a theft by unknown individuals, which escalated and spiraled out of control.
Despite the relief efforts, the root causes of the violence remain largely unaddressed, fueling fears of more unrest. The Jahun and Miga local government chairmen have urged residents to remain calm, promising that they are collaborating with state authorities and security forces to restore peace.
“The government is taking this seriously. We are working with security agencies to ensure peace returns to the area,” the local government chairmen assured in a joint statement.
Meanwhile, the Jigawa State Police Commissioner, CP AT. Abdullahi, expressed grave concern over the violent turn of events, confirming that efforts were being made to apprehend the perpetrators. “A committee has been set up to tackle the ongoing farmer-herder conflict, and we are doing everything we can to bring those responsible to justice,” Abdullahi stated.
The state’s response, however, has not quieted the concerns of the residents. Ethnic violence between the Hausa and Fulani communities is not new to Jigawa. The state has witnessed numerous flare-ups in the past, with tensions simmering just beneath the surface. The ethnic divide remains a constant source of strain in the region, with clashes periodically erupting over issues such as land disputes, cattle rustling, and other long-standing grievances.
But the recent attack has triggered a new level of alarm. With such widespread destruction and the loss of lives, many residents are calling for stronger measures to prevent further violence. Observers fear that without a serious intervention by both local authorities and the federal government, the situation may escalate even further.
“We are not safe here anymore,” one local resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said. “These clashes have been happening for years, but this one is the worst. People are dying, houses are being destroyed, and the government is not doing enough to stop it.”
The emotional toll on the families of the victims is undeniable. Many are calling for a swift response, not only in providing financial relief but also in addressing the root causes of these ethnic tensions. The violence has left many questioning the effectiveness of government efforts to resolve conflicts between the two communities, which have coexisted in the region for generations.
“The government has promised peace for years, but we are still fighting,” said one resident, visibly frustrated. “How long will we wait for a solution that never comes?”
The rising ethnic tensions in Jigawa also reflect broader issues facing Nigeria as a whole. The conflicts between the Hausa and Fulani are often tied to larger national issues, such as the distribution of resources, access to land, and the ongoing challenges of modern governance. While regional governments like Jigawa’s have taken some steps to mediate disputes, the violence in Gululu village underscores the limited impact these measures have had on the ground.
The ongoing violence, coupled with the continued suffering of the victims, highlights the urgent need for an overhaul of Nigeria’s approach to conflict resolution. Without effective strategies that address the underlying causes of ethnic strife, these kinds of clashes are likely to continue.
For now, the people of Gululu village and surrounding areas wait for justice, but the scars of this tragic episode will last far longer than the emergency aid packages. The violence may have subsided for the moment, but its echoes continue to reverberate across the region. The path forward remains unclear, but one thing is certain: the time for change is long overdue.
