Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State
By Joseph Adahnu, Jalingo
No fewer than eleven persons and several others missing in a renewed crisis that struck between Tiv and Fulani community in Bantaje town, a suburb of Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State.
A community source allegedly said that a Fulani man was robbed and killed by a suspected Tiv hoodlum on his way back from Sansani, a village market, a suburb of also Gassol LG.
The tragedy attack resulted to a reprisal attack on Tiv villagers, resulting to the murder of 10 persons.
A resident, David Torbee, who lost his brother during the attack, told newsmen that two of his female children were still missing.
He said, “We recovered six bodies yesterday (Tuesday) and buried them the following day (Wednesday). This morning, the vigilantes found four more bodies in the bush and we intend to bury them this afternoon same Wednesday”
“As we speak, many people are still missing and we can’t tell whether they are alive or dead. The Fulani attackers are hunting and killing people in their farms, so it is difficult to ascertain the actual casualty figures.”
The District head of Bantaje Chiefdom, Yahaya Rufai, where the attack took place, however confirmed the incident and said, six farmers were killed at the boundary between Gassol and Wukari local government areas.
As at time of this report, efforts to reach out to the state Police spokesman DSP Abdullahi Usman, proved abortive as several calls the network will “the number you are calling is not available at the moment”.
