By: Zagazola Makama
Tensions flared into deadly violence in Niger State on Friday as a simmering land dispute between Gpakpo and Gidigi communities erupted into a brutal clash, leaving one man dead and three others seriously injured.
According to credible sources, the confrontation occurred around 1:00 p.m. at a rice depot in Gidigi village, situated in the Katcha Local Government Area. Armed residents of Gpakpo village reportedly stormed the depot wielding Dane guns, in what security operatives have described as a premeditated assault over contested farmland rights.
In the ensuing chaos, one Babayi Alhaji Soma was fatally shot. Three other male residents of Gidigi — Hassan Ndaji, Zakaria Ya’musa, and Mutiu Mohammed — sustained varying degrees of gunshot wounds. The injured victims were swiftly evacuated to the General Hospital in Katcha, where they are currently receiving treatment.
Security agencies, acting on a rapid distress call, responded promptly to the scene, preventing further bloodshed and restoring a fragile calm to the embattled communities.
A senior security official who spoke under anonymity confirmed that forces have since been stationed in both villages to forestall any reprisal attacks and ensure peace is maintained.
“This incident is deeply unfortunate,” the official said. “We are working with local leaders to de-escalate tensions and prevent further violence. The situation is currently under control, but we remain on high alert.”
Communal conflicts over land and resource ownership have long plagued parts of Niger State, often igniting longstanding ethnic and territorial grievances. Friday’s clash is yet another grim reminder of how unresolved disputes can spiral into deadly violence when left unchecked.
Authorities have urged both communities to remain calm and allow security and traditional leaders to mediate the crisis through lawful and peaceful means. An investigation into the incident is ongoing, and further updates are expected in the coming days.
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