Militia warns Taraba communities against going to farm

…Police confirm 9 killed in fresh Taraba attack

…Another 5 dead bodies recovered in 2 communities

Jalingo — ARMED militia have warned Taraba State communities not to waste their time going to farm as they were going to come after them.

This was revealed by President General of Tiv Cultural and Social Association, TCSA, Taraba State, Chief Goodman Dahida,who said most communities around Gbundu, Ayu-Guraku, Ananum and Shaakaa villages in Donga were completely deserted following attacks by armed militia.

He called on Army operatives of Operation Ayem Akpatuma currently ongoing in the state not to take the threats lightly.

This came as Police Command in the state, yesterday, confirmed the death of nine persons in early morning attacks on Tutuwa community in Ussa Local Government Area of Taraba State.

Meanwhile, five people were reportedly killed in Mbayevikyaior and Atsaha villages, a border community between Donga and Takum Local Government areas of the state.

According to Dahida, “the armed militia told Tersoo John and Tyokula Iorwa in Dogon Gawa and Mbayevikyaior respectively when they met them on their farms in Takum LGA not to waste their time farming as they were going to come after their communities and several others in Donga and Takum LGA after moving their cows off the areas.”

When contacted, Police Public Relations Officer, ASP. David Missal said the command was yet to receive official complaint from the said communities over threats of attacks.

Police confirm 9 killed in fresh Taraba attack.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP David Misal, yesterday, told newsmen that a yet-to-be identified armed militia must have carried out the deadly attack on Tutuwa community.

Misal said Alhaji Aliyu Tafida, Deputy Commissioner of Police of the command, and heads of other security agencies in the state had already moved in to assess the situation.

Chairman of Ussa local government council, Mr Rimansikwe Karma, while also confirming the attack to newsmen, added that three people were injured.

Karma said the attackers rounded up the village at about 5 a.m. and launched the attack when members of the community were going for early morning prayers.

“Every Wednesday morning, the community conducts mid-week service and most of them were on their way, when the armed militia attacked them.

“Nine persons were killed and three others sustained life threatening injuries and are currently receiving treatment at Takum General Hospital.

“The unfortunate thing is that the attackers left before the arrival of security personnel,” he said.

5 dead bodies recovered

Meanwhile, residents of Mbayevikyaior and Atsaha villages in Chanchanji ward, a border community between Donga and Takum local government areas of the state said they have recovered five dead bodies allegedly killed by armed militia.

A resident of Mbayevikyaior, who participated in the burial of the victims on Tuesday, toldVanguard that many of the bodies had already decomposed at the time of the recovery, days after the people were declared missing.

“The armed militia, who guarded the herdsmen that passed through our village, were seen with sophisticated weapons and killed most of the victims on their farms in the hinterlands.

“They destroyed our farms and burned down few houses, warning our people not to waste their time farming as they were going to come back to attack our communities.

“They are currently staying with thousands of cows along the river Donga and most of our people living close to the river have since fled for fear of further attacks after the killing of five persons on their farms,” he said.

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