11 people killed as Taraba crisis worsens

Barely eight hours after the Taraba Joint peace committee submitted a report on the crisis in the state to the State Deputy Governor, Engr. Haruna Manu in Jalingo, the state capital, another fresh attack on villagers has been announced.

In a recent attack on Tungwa and Utsua-Daa communities in Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State, it was reported that not fewer than eleven people were killed by armed bandits

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The incident, according to residents, occured when the gunmen attacked Tungwa on Thursday and Utsua-Daa on Friday, leaving scores dead and a further eleven killed.

The resident added that members of both community have to take to their heels in order to avoid untimely death as the gunmen killed and burned houses in both attacks.

A resident explained, “We saw 11 dead bodies after the attacks. Many house have been burnt and people have deserted the communities.

“Many people especially Tiv farmers are fleeing the communities on foot to Bali for safety,” he said.

When asked on the development, the Caretaker Chairman of Bali Local Government Council, Hon. Musa Mahmud, confirmed the incident but explained that just five people lost their live in the attacks.

Hon. Mahmud, who claimed to have been at the scene for about two hours confirmed that several houses were burnt as well but everything is at rest now. He however called on residents to embrace peace in place of violence.