16 Killed In Taraba Attack

Barely 24 hours after the acting governor of Taraba State, Alhaji Garba Umar received the report of the seven-man committee set up by the governments of Benue and Taraba states to put an end to the lingering crisis between Tiv/Jukun farmers and Fulani herdsmen at the border communities, fresh crisis yesterday erupted in Chenkai village in Wukari local government area of the state, leaving 16 people dead, 39 injured and properties worth millions of naira destroyed. A resident of the village, Mr Joseph Angwowu, who spoke to DOROVIBES's Blog on phone, said that the armed men identified to be Fulani herdsmen, numbering over 72, invaded the village at about 11pm yesterday and engaged in shooting that led to the killing of 16 persons. Details of the cause of the crisis were not immediately known, but DOROVIBE'S Blog gathered that it was a spill-over of the crisis among Tivs and Fulani herdsmen from Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau states. Angwowu also said that 39 persons were injured with machetes in the process of the attack. He noted that the invaders were identified to be Fulani herdsmen who have been killing and terrorising innocent persons from the southern part of the state.
When contacted, the spokesman of the state police command, ASP Joseph Kwaji confirmed to DOROVIBE'S Blog on phone that only three persons were killed by the attackers in Chenkai village. He further stressed that the command had drafted more of its men to the affected area to arrest the ugly situation, while investigation continues. Crisis has engulfed some parts of Taraba State for over four months, leading to the death of over 100 people and the destruction of valuable properties.