Gunmen attack Taraba communities, scores missing

Local residents on Sunday said scores of people are missing and hundreds have fled across River Donga to Nyivu in Donga Local Government Area after suspected Fulani herdsmen attacked Manya and Sabongida Kpasimbe communities in the Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State.

But the Taraba State Police command said nobody is missing and the personnel have been deployed to the area to maintain law and order.

This is even as the member representing Takum I State Constituency in the Taraba State House of Assembly, Hon. Garba Ajiya said no life was lost in the two attacks.

A resident of Manya who fled to Takum town, Mr. Tanko Tsokwa, said on the phone that the attackers in their numbers invaded the community and started shooting around 5:30 am.

“They came in large numbers in the company of cows and started shooting sporadically. Luckily enough we were able to escape through the river and cross over to Nyivu. I can’t confirm any casualty, but many people especially women and children are missing,” he said.

A member of the Taraba State House of Assembly representing the area, Hon. Garba Ajiya while confirming the attack said his village, Sabon-Gida Kpashimbe, was also attacked and burnt but no life was lost.

He said, “Yes, they attacked and burnt houses in Manya and my village Sabon-Gida Kpashimbe, but no life was lost. I was told they have proceeded to Kwesati in the neighbouring Ussa Local Government Area.

“At present, 21 villages in my constituency have been sacked by the Fulani attackers who have now occupied the communities and are feeding on people’s farms. They have converted some of the houses that were not burnt to their houses where they are staying and committing these atrocities.

“I want to call on the government to provide immediate relief assistance to the IDPs to address the humanitarian situation in areas under attack and take steps to end the killings,” he added.

When contacted, Police Public Relations Officer, DSP. Gambo Kwache said the command has deployed more personnel to the troubled area to maintain peace.

“We have made a deployment to the area and our men are on the trail of the attackers,” she said.

It is reported that communities in Ussa and Takum mostly inhabited by the Kuteb ethnic group have come under sustained and coordinated attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen, leaving over 120, 000 people displaced and scores killed since January this year.   (The PUNCH)