79 People Report Killed In Plateau, Taraba Fresh Attack

8 years ago

79 People Report Killed In Plateau, Taraba Fresh Attack

About 79 people have been killed in Taraba and Plateau states.

No fewer than 49 people were said to have lost their lives and several others injured in separate attacks in Karim Lamido and Takum local government areas of Taraba State.

An eyewitness told LEADERSHIP that 40 people were killed in Karim-Lamido LGA of the state following a reprisal attack by the military.

Suspected Fulani gunmen two days ago ambushed and killed six soldiers while three others were said to be missing when the gunmen attacked the soldiers between Amar and Kambari village of Karim Lamido local government.

It was learnt that the soldiers were on routine patrol of the area when they were ambushed and killed. The three missing soldiers were later found dead after three days by soldiers when they combed the area in search of their missing colleagues.

Also, in Takum local government area of the state, nine people were yesterday killed by suspected Kuteb youths on a revenge mission over 13 of their people killed by unknown gunmen along Takum-Katsina-Ala road and Takum-Kashinbilla road between Friday and Saturday.

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Tension is said to be mounting in Takum town and its environs as the crisis continues to escalate.

Following the incident, the council chairman, Mr Caleb Bitrus Babafi, has imposed a 24-hour curfew in Takum town to forestall further attacks.

Confirming the killings, police public relations officer, ASP Joseph Kwaji, told LEADERSHIP that he was not aware of the killings in Karim Lamido, but he confirmed that nine people were killed in Takum following a clash between Tiv and Kuteb youths.

Kwaji, who said no arrest had been made, however, noted that relative peace had returned to the area as police detectives were on patrol of the town and its environs to prevent the crisis from escalating.

Again, unknown gunmen kill 30 people in four Plateau villages

In neighbouring Plateau State, suspected Fulani herdsmen have also killed 30 people in four villages: Vat, Pandadi, Zakukpang and Dorong.

The chairman of Barkin Ladi LGA, Hon. Emmanuel Lomang, confirmed the killings yesterday.

LEADERSHIP investigation in Jos yesterday revealed that the suspected Fulani attackers entered the villages through Jos East LGA and killed 17 people, including women, in Vat village while 13 others were also attacked and killed in Zakupang village, all of Foron District of Barkin LGA.

Loman, who condemned the incessant attacks in the area, blamed the security agencies for not protecting the lives of the citizens of the local government. He challenged the security agencies, especially the Special Task Force on Jos crisis, to take action toward arresting the marauders.

Our correspondent further gathered that the gunmen also attacked the village of the current minister of water resources, Hon. Sarah Reng Ochekpe.

Village head of Kapwen in Foron District, Da Gwom Ishaku Pam, disclosed that a pastor working with the Church of Christ in Nation (COCIN), Pastor Luka Gwom, was killed during the attack. The same fate befell a young lady, Paulina, who got married two weeks ago.

The village head said the series of the attacks in the locality had caused the residents sleepless nights and maintained that, so far, 17 corpses had been recovered and were awaiting mass burial at the time of filing this report.

Efforts by our correspondent to contact the media and information officer of the Special Task Force on phone, Captain Iweha, to speak on the matter were futile as his mobile phone was switched off.