11 Feared Killed, Many Injured in Taraba Crisis

Eleven men have been reportedly killed in the ongoing crisis in Lau Local Government Area (LGA) of Taraba State.

The Killer-herdsmen went on a fresh rampage in Kunini village of Lau on Saturday, killing eight persons.

The killers, who invaded at night, set many homes ablaze.

However, when the youths embarked on protest, soldiers reportedly killed one of them.

Lau has been in crisis since January, leaving at least 141 persons dead and most of the settlements destroyed.

Violence resurfaced last Thursday at a Masquerade Festival in Wailawa where two residents were injured.

The state Commissioner of Police, David Akinremi, at the weekend deployed a team of policemen to join forces with the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the area and end the skirmishes.

But the policemen were ambushed by the rampaging armed bandits.

In a crossfire, however, two of the marauders were killed by the police and two arrests made, with some weapons, motorbikes and charms recovered.

Soldiers deployed to the area for the purpose of maintaining peace, reportedly fired and killed one of the angry youths who had gathered to protest the invasion and killing of their people by herdsmen.

According to eyewitnesses, the incident occured when the bodies of the eight persons murdered by the herdsmen were being taken for a mass burial.

Taraba State police spokesman, David Misal, in a statement on Saturday said the situation was brought under control as a result of the prompt intervention of the Lau Divisional Police Officer.