Tension has gripped Tilli community in Bunza Local Government Area of Kebbi State following a deadly reprisal attack that claimed the lives of over ten Fulani herders. The incident, which occurred on Sunday, was reportedly in response to the killing of a vigilante member by suspected Lakurawa bandits operating in the area.

According to residents, the death of the vigilante was wrongly blamed on Fulani herders residing in the community. In retaliation, some locals mobilized and attacked the Fulani settlement in the early hours of Sunday, setting off a wave of violence that left several dead and many others injured.

A local source told reporters that the attackers mistook the herders for the culprits. “The reprisal was carried out in error. They thought the Fulani were responsible for the vigilante’s death. Over ten people were killed, while several others sustained injuries. The search for more bodies is still ongoing,” the source explained.

Following the incident, Kebbi State Deputy Governor, Senator Umar Abubakar Tafida, alongside officials of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), visited Tilli to commiserate with the victims’ families and assess the level of destruction. Their visit aimed to calm tensions and prevent further escalation of violence in the area.

When contacted, the Kebbi State Police Command spokesperson, CSP Nafiu Abubakar, said he was yet to receive a detailed report on the attack but assured that investigations were underway. The attack adds to the growing list of communal clashes in parts of northwest Nigeria, often triggered by misunderstandings between farmers, herders, and vigilante groups.