Yola — Calm appears to have been restored following clashes between pastoralists and farmers in Ngandum Village, Sugu district in Ganye chiefdom of Adamawa State.

At the onset of the incident, scores of houses were burnt and several farms destroyed as many were arrested.

However, the local government chairman, Alh. Muhammadu Farouk Adamu confirmed only six people dead.

The chairman of the council confirmed that normalcy has since been restored with deployment of troops as according to him.

He explained, "The violence erupted at the weekend, when pastoralists attacked the farming village of Ngandum.

"Herdsmen led their cattle into rice fields resulting in the death of a farmer."

Anti riot police and police have been deployed calming down tension, he said.

"For now, we only recorded six dead persons. Already, police are deployed. People should remain calm and not to take law into their hands," he warned.

He promised that the council will continue to provide logistic support to ensure peace and normalcy in the area, calling on the people of the area to report any suspicious move.

Clashes between farmers and pastoralists over grazing fields are on the rise throughout the country as pastureland shrinks, according to environmental consultant Kabiru Yammama.

"Wherever we turn, we find the land reserved for our cattle to feed taken over by farmers...It becomes difficult for herds to move and graze without veering into crop fields. Once that happens, the farmers confront us," said Yammama.