JALINGO, Federal Republic of Nigeria. Nine persons were feared killed in Sarki-Kudu Village of Ibi Local Council of Taraba State following a reprisal attack said to have allegedly been carried out by Fulani herdsmen on the Tiv community.
The incident, which took place on Tuesday, forced many people living in the area to relocate to nearby Plateau State and some local councils within the state. Confirming the report, the council chairman, Illiya Mohammed, said no fewer than seven persons were killed in the attack.
Security chiefs in the state, according to him, have been informed “and the council is leaving no stone unturned to stop the crisis from escalating to nearby councils.” The crisis had compelled the commissioner of police to relocate his office to the area, which is observed to be one of the volatile spots in the state.
The Police Commissioner, who spoke with The Guardian through the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Joseph Kwaji, also disclosed that the attack was a reprisal. Unlike the council boss who said seven persons were killed in the upheaval, the PPRO confirmed nine deaths.
There were conflicting reports on casualty figures at the time of filing this report. Besides, some persons were also said to have sustained varying degree of injuries and are presently undergoing medical treatment at various health centres in the area.
An eyewitness, who spoke on telephone, said the people, especially the Tiv community in the area, were taken by surprise by the herdsmen who had been terrorising the local council as well as the entire southern zone of the state.
The eyewitness, who claimed to have narrowly escaped the attack, expressed dissatisfaction with the number of security operatives in the area, saying it was nothing to write home about.
Credit: Guardian (Nigeria)
