A 14-year-old girl is injured in a Nasarawa farmers’ attack after suspected armed herders open fire following a reported grazing dispute

A 14-year-old girl, Amina Ya’u, has sustained gunshot injuries after suspected armed herders reportedly opened fire on farmers in Majelisa village, a community along the Nasarawa-Plateau border, on Thursday, 5 November 2026, following an alleged disagreement over grazing activities.

The attack, which occurred at approximately 6.30 am, prompted an emergency response from troops of Sector 9, Operation Enduring Peace, deployed at Jenta, after reports of sporadic gunfire reached security personnel.

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rtAccording to a report by security-focused publication Zagazola Makama, the troops arrived in the community and found the teenage girl suffering from gunshot wounds, while the suspected attackers had already fled.

Preliminary investigations reportedly indicated that the shooting followed a disagreement between farmers and a group of armed herders over grazing activities.

The report stated: “Preliminary investigations indicated that a group of armed herders allegedly opened fire on farmers following a disagreement over grazing activities.”

Following the incident, the troops evacuated Amina to General Hospital, Lafia, in Nasarawa State, for medical attention.

Security personnel were also said to be engaging Fulani community leaders to assist in identifying and locating the fleeing suspects.

The military has reportedly intensified patrols and strengthened its presence around the affected community to prevent further violence and contain any possible escalation.

Although the immediate circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investigation, the incident has once again drawn attention to the persistent security challenges facing farming communities across Nigeria’s North-Central region.

Nasarawa and neighbouring Plateau State have experienced recurring communal tensions involving farmers and herders, with disputes over access to farmland, grazing routes and natural resources contributing to confrontations in several communities.

A February 2026 security assessment by the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), drawing on conflict data covering 2024 and 2025, documented 109 security incidents resulting in 183 fatalities in Nasarawa State during the two-year period.

The assessment identified intercommunal clashes, particularly disputes involving farming and herding communities, among the factors contributing to insecurity in the state. It also documented attacks, destruction of agricultural produce and damage to property.

The wider conflict has also affected livelihoods, with farmers facing the risk of losing crops, access to agricultural land and sources of income, while repeated confrontations have undermined peaceful relations between rural communities.

In July 2026, the Nigerian Army and Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace organised a stakeholders’ engagement in Jos, bringing together traditional rulers, farmers, herders, community representatives and government officials to discuss strategies for maintaining peace during the farming season.

Major General Folusho Oyinlola, the General Officer Commanding 3 Division and Commander of Operation Enduring Peace, described the engagement as an important opportunity for dialogue, confidence-building and peaceful conflict resolution.

The latest shooting in Majelisa underscores the importance of translating such engagements into effective protection for vulnerable communities, particularly during periods of heightened farming and grazing activities.

For Amina and her family, however, the immediate concern remains her recovery from the gunshot injuries.

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With the suspected attackers still at large, the effectiveness of the ongoing security response and efforts to identify those responsible will be important in preventing further violence in the border community.