Uproar as Niger youths massacre pigs for exhuming, eating dead boy

Pigs on Saturday dug up and ate part of the remains of a five-year old boy at a cemetery in Kafinkoro community in Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State.

The development infuriated some youths in the community, who reportedly went from house to house killing pigs they could find.

The killing of the animals, in turn, led to an uproar in the community prompting the police to deploy anti-riot policemen to maintain law and order.


It was gathered that the owners of the pigs stormed the residence of the youth leader, Alhaji Mamman, who reportedly fled.

Meanwhile, the Niger State Police Command has detained seven youths for allegedly killing 330 pigs.

It was learnt that the police deployed some personnel to control the situation which was almost getting out of hand.

Northern City News learnt the state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Ketso, visited the community on Sunday and promised to compensate the aggrieved women.

He also called for calm and admonished the people not to take laws into their hands.
A leader of the women, Mrs. Hanetu Abdila, lamented that security operatives were nowhere to be found when the youths destroyed their means of livelihood.

“These boys came to our house and beat us and nobody came to secure us. We need security. Our women don’t have any other means of livelihood apart from those pigs,” she said.

The police spokesman in the state, Bala Elkana, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Tuesday, saying seven suspects were being held in connection with the killing of the animals.

He said the state Commissioner of Police, Zubairu Muazu, held a peace meeting with all the parties on Monday as a way of fostering peace in the community.

Elkana said, “The pigs ate part of the boy’s corpse and this angered the youths and they went on the rampage killing every pig in sight and this is some peoples’ business. About 330 pigs were destroyed by the suspects.
“The owners of the pigs protested, but the situation was brought under control.  The deputy governor was there to calm the situation and he assured the people of compensation. We have seven suspects in custody and they would be arraigned in court once we conclude investigation.”

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