Four Killed, Eight Injured in Renewed Taraba Clashes

• As fresh attack claims three in Plateau

Wole Ayodele in Jalingo and Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

Four persons have been confirmed killed and eight others injured in a renewed communal clash at Kunini village in Lau local government area of Taraba State.

Likewise, three persons were shot dead Friday night at Jebbu Miango, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State by unknown gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.

In a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Mr. David Misal, the Taraba State Police Command confirmed the clashes, noting that two of the victims were killed in a gun duel by policemen who ran into an ambush laid by the gunmen.

Apart from those who were killed and injured in the clashes, several houses and other properties worth millions of naira were also destroyed in the clashes which broke out on Thursday between the Kuninis and Fulani ethnic stock.

The statement said the command received a distress call on August that a fracas erupted between the leaders of the festival in Wailawa and some people in the community who are of Fulani extraction during a traditional masquerade festival initiation in Wailawa.

Consequently, the statement noted that two persons sustained injury during the clash and were immediately taken to hospital for treatment.

It explained that the Commissioner of Police, Mr. David Akinremi deployed additional patrol teams to the area“to complement the effort of the divisional police officer.

When the patrol teams arrived, the statement noted that a peace meeting involving community leaders from both sides of the ethnic groups in the area was called.

It said: “While the meeting was about to start, a gunshot was heard from the surrounding communities which heightened tension amongst residents.

“The teams promptly brought the situation under control but some houses had been burnt from both sides with two people killed and six injured.”

The statement said the police received information while the peace efforts were still ongoing that Garin Tafida village had been attacked by some hoodlums in a reprisal attack.

It said: “While effort to restore peace was ongoing, information was received that Garin Tafida Village came under attack by some hoodlums in a reprisal attack and patrol team were drafted to the area.

“While on their way, they were ambushed by armed men on motorcycles who engaged the team in a gun battle. The team confronted the hoodlums and shot two of them to death while two were arrested.”

In Plateau, unknown gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen killed three persons in Jebbu Miango, Bassa Local Government Area Friday night.

The attackers were said to have struck at about 8:30 pm, a few hours after the visit of the new Commander of Special Task Force (STF), Maj.-Gen. Augustine Agundu to the area.

The victims, Emma Gado, male 22, Ladi Monday, male 30 and her daughter Mary Monday, 5 years were said to have been buried by their relations according to the tradition of Irigwe ethnic group.

At a session yesterday, the Spokesperson of the Plateau State Police Command, Mr. Matthias Tyopev confirmed the killing, saying investigation had commenced.

Tyopev said the police command received information that on August 3, unknown armed men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen attacked Zanwra area of Jebbu Miango, Bassa LGA.

As a result of the attack, according to the spokesperson, three persons were shot dead. Police detectives led by the Divisional Crime Officer of Bassa Police Division mobilised to the scene of crime. One expended shell of 7.62mm ammunition was recovered; photographs of the corpses were also taken.

“Meanwhile, the corpses were buried by relations according to Irigwe rites. Investigation is in progress to track and arrest the perpetrators to face justice. We also appeal to members of the public to help with the needed information to unravel the mystery behind the attack.”

Also, the Spokesperson of Miango Youths Development Association, Lawrence Zongo said the government does not appear to be interested in the protection of lives and property.

He said: “People in Jiri village are all in Miango town; they are displaced and their houses burnt and razed down last month, on June 20 as they went to the farm. We are yet to have a government that is willing to protect the lives and properties of our people. We continue to bury our people daily as Fulani terrorists vow to continue killing us without an end.

“This attack occurred after the new STF commander Maj. Gen. Augustine Agundu, visited our community. After some hours, the Fulani people attacked our people. We pray that he came with good motives.

“All what he said was defending the Fulani accusing us of Killing their cows. But we know nothing about it because we agreed that no Fulani should graze their cattle any more on our lands.”

Zongo accused Agundu of coming “with the purpose of protect Fulani cows, not minding about us.” A meeting which had been scheduled between the Miango youths and Agundu at the STF Headquarters in Jos on Saturday was put off because of the renewed killings.