At least five people have been confirmed dead, with several others missing or injured, after a violent clash between herdsmen and peasant farmers in Ejule-Ojebe, a remote community in Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The confrontation was triggered when a farmer was allegedly killed on his way to his farm, following long-running tensions over the destruction of crops by cattle. Residents said the killing reignited anger that had been simmering for months as farmlands were repeatedly grazed and trampled.

Community sources said youths quickly mobilised in retaliation, hunting for the suspected attackers. As they combed the surrounding bush paths, they reportedly discovered the body of a woman along a farm track. By the next day, two more corpses were found in different parts of the community, deepening fear and confusion.

The fifth victim, identified as Suleiman, was said to have been trailed from Ejule-Ojebe to a village on the Ibaji–Idah border and killed shortly after returning from his farm. Residents described his death as particularly unsettling, interpreting it as a sign that the violence was spreading beyond the immediate flashpoint.

“Several households are still taking stock of their relatives; for now, five residents have been confirmed killed in the crisis, yet several others are still missing,” a resident, Omachonu, said, adding that many families fled in haste, leaving behind homes and harvests.

The clashes have triggered a wave of displacement. Fearing reprisals and further bloodshed, many herdsmen were seen moving their cattle out of Ibaji towards Oforachi, Ikpokawo and Odolu in neighbouring Igala-Mela/Odolu Local Government Area. At the same time, farmers and their families have reportedly sought refuge in nearby communities considered safer.

The Deputy Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Comfort Ojoma Nwuchiola Egwaba, who represents Ibaji Constituency, confirmed the incident and described it as a “tragic loss of lives.” She called for calm and urged security agencies to restore order and prevent an escalation of the conflict.

Local leaders are appealing for urgent intervention, including increased security presence and mediation between herders and farmers, warning that without swift action, the fragile peace in surrounding communities could quickly unravel.