The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Taraba attack

  • Nine die in Taraba attack

    The Police in Taraba State have confirmed the death of nine persons in yesterday’s early morning attack on Tutuwa in Ussa Local Government Area.

    The police spokesman, David Misal, said a yet-to-be identified armed militia allegedly carried out the attack.

    Misal said the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in charge of the command, Aliyu Tafida, and heads of other security agencies, have moved in to assess the situation.

    Chairman of Ussa council Rimansikwe Karma, who also confirmed the attack, said three persons were injured.

    Karma said the hoodlums attacked the village about 5am when residents were going for their early morning prayers.

    He said: “Every Wednesday morning, the community conducts mid-week service and most of them were on their way, when they were attacked.

    “Nine persons died and three others sustained injuries; they are being treated at Takum General Hospital.

    “The unfortunate thing is that the attackers left before security personnel arrived.”

    The Police in Borno State have said two Boko Haram bombers were killed in a failed bid to attack a mosque in Jidari Polo area of Maiduguri.

    Police Commissioner Damien Chukwu said the incident occurred about 5.30 am.

    Chukwu said the female suicide bombers hid in an uncompleted building and detonated their Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) before reaching their target.

    He said: “They were first sighted by members of the vigilance group, who informed policemen.

    ‘’After a hot chase, they ran into an uncompleted building.

    “In an attempt to escape arrest, they detonated their IEDs, killing themselves.

    “The police Explosives Ordinance Disposal (EOD) team have been called in to sanitise the area.”

  • Police confirm five dead in Taraba attack

    Police confirm five dead in Taraba attack

    The Taraba State Police Command yesterday  confirmed that five people were killed and several others injured in fresh attacks on Fulani communities by suspected Mambilla militia in Sardauna local government area of the state.

    According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the   Police spokesman in the state, Mr. David Misal said the crisis erupted in Nyiwa and Yerimaru areas on Thursday following a misunderstanding between a farmer and a herder.

    He said units of mobile policemen and soldiers from the 20 battalion in Serti were deployed to the area to maintain law and order.

    Misal added that the situation, which led to the burning of several homes and killing of many cows, had been brought under control.

    A victim of the attack, Malam Abubakar Ardo, who escaped with his family, told NAN in Gembu that the attacks started at midday on Thursday and most of the killings occurred in the night.

    He said almost all houses in about 15 Fulani communities were torched by the assailants.

    Ardo said that the timely arrival of both army and police prevented further killings and destruction of property.

  • Suspected Fulani herdsmen kill four in Taraba

    Suspected Fulani herdsmen kill four in Taraba

    Suspected Fulani herdsmen on Thursday killed four persons in Taraba State.

    The attack came 10 hours after Governor Darius Ishaku alerted on the attack.

    The gunmen attacked Ngutwsem village, Gassol local government area of the state on Thursday night.

    The victims included one Mr. Shiriga Vaawombo and his wife Ngunan.

    A family relative, who witnessed the incident, said: “When the couple heard gun shots, they crawled out of a room where they were sleeping.

    “The husband took the wife to a place he thought was safer. He was returning to pick up their baby when the invaders shot him. His wife then cried out from where she was hiding. She was gunned down too.”

    The late Vaawombo’s second wife, Iveren, 35, was all tears on Friday.

    The woman told The Nation that she had traveled to Sabon Gida when the killers invaded their home.

     

  • Three killed, six injured in Taraba attack

    Three killed, six injured in Taraba attack

    Three persons died and six were injured in an overnight attack on Maisamari town in Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba State.

    Police spokesman David Misal, said the attack, by a suspected militia, occurred at a cultural event, called Nding-Chin.

    Misal, who said the area is now calm, added that the command deployed more policemen to tighten security.

    Acting Chairman of Sardauna council Godwin Sol told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the council banned cultural meetings and festivals because of the security situation.

    He said he was, however, surprised when the group mobilised its kinsmen for a dance in Maisamari against the council’s order.

    Sol added that security operatives dispersed the gathering, giving everyone time to leave.

    But instead of leaving, the group relocated to the house of Yaya Ahmadun to continue its dance.

    “It was then unknown gunmen attacked the place, killed three persons and injured six,” Sol said.

    The council boss added that the host and leaders of the group have been arrested.

     

  • 27 feared killed, 80 injured in Taraba attack

    At least twenty seven persons were yesterday killed and eighty injured in an ethno-religious crisis in Nwonko village of Wukari local government council of Taraba state.

    Several houses and other properties were also burnt.

     Police said they recovered nine corpses when the violence died down. The attackers however fled, upon the arrival of armed policemen.

    Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Joseph Kwaji said the crisis was between Fulani Muslims and Jukun Christians.

    “Before the arrival of our men, the attackers had fled the scene. The police were able to recover nine corpses.”Our men are on ground now patrolling the place, and I think relative peace is returning,” Kwaji said.

    Sources said the attack took place in the early hours.

    The killings raised fears that next month’s general elections may not be peaceful in some parts of Taraba state.

     Wukari has been a zone of bloodshed since 2013. With the reinstatement of Abubakar Sani Danladi as the new acting governor, the skirmishes were thought to have died down for displaced residents to return to their homes and participate in the general elections. But there seemed to be no truce in the horizon, following yesterday’s resurgence of violence.

    Wukari has been socially and economically paralysed, very quiet and deserted like a ‘ghost town.’

    A member representing Wukari constituency in the state House of Assembly Daniel Ishaya Gani condemned the killings saying women and children were also victims.

    Gani said the fighters, in their thousands, began the offensive in Tunari village before invading Nwonko.

    “Initially we thought the attackers were Boko Haram from Maiduguri because of their large number and sophisticated weaponry, until we discovered they were Fulani arsonists,” the lawmaker said.

    Gani urged the government to do more in deploying dependable security to the area to protect lives and property.

    President of the Wukari Youths of Vision Awudu Kefas also condemned the killings, asking the government to take more “proactive measures’ to protect lives and properties in the town.

  • 20 feared dead in Taraba attack

    There appears to be no end to ethnic and religious crises in Southern Senatorial District of Taraba State.

    About 20 people were feared dead yesterday in an attack on Tunari, Wukari. Many were injured and several houses torched.

    It was learnt that Fulani insurgents suspected to be from Plateau State attacked the community around 10am and unleashed violence on residents for several hours.

    President of the Youths of Vision, Wukari branch, Tsa-Asen Agbu said the attackers struck when majority of the residents – largely Christians, were in church.

    Agbu, a lawyer, alleged that the attackers were out to kill and reduce the Christian population in Taraba, adding: “Why Taraba South? Why are the attacks always directed at Jukun and Tiv Christian communities?”

    He urged President Goodluck Jonathan to declare a state of emergency in Taraba.

    Residents said over 20 persons were killed. Police spokesman Joseph Kwaji confirmed the attack but said he did not know the casualty figure.

    He said policemen had been drafted to the area to restore peace.