No fewer than five persons reportedly lost their lives while others have been hospitalized, Friday’s morning, following renewed attacks by suspected Tiv militias on Jukun villages of Rafinkada and Kente areas of Wukari in southern Taraba state local officials have said.
The attack is coming barely two weeks after the deputy governors of Taraba and Benue states met in Wukari and issued a communiqué on the resolution of the crisis.
The attack was confirmed to our correspondent on Friday by the caretaker Chairman of Wukari LGA, Daniel Adi.
Adi stated that over 11 persons were still missing, adding that several houses were burnt in an attack on Rafinkada and Kente on Friday morning.
‘’ Rafinkada and Kente are seriously on fire this morning and five people are suspected to be killed by the Tiv ethnic militias. The casualty figures may rise.
‘’ All these people are coming from Benue state and is like the Benue state government are fighting Wukari local government in particular.
‘’ So, we are calling on the federal government to intervene on this issue and also to warn the Benue people to stop trespassing into our lands to come and fight us,’’ said he.
He noted that with this attack, no fewer than 40 people were allegedly killed by Tiv ethnic militias in the recent weeks.
‘’ With today’s attack, over 40 people were killed in the recent time by these Tiv militias based on figures available.
‘’Enough is enough! We will defend ourselves now because we are pushed to the wall!’’ He warned.
Also corroborating, a Jukun youth leader in the area Zando Hoku had told Premium times on phone that beside destruction of property lives were also lost.
‘’ In the early hours of today, the Tiv people in large numbers, they are working on their numerical strength had besieged our two communities of Rafinkada and Kente.
‘’In Rafinkada, there were destructions of lives and property, houses were burnt. We had earlier repelled their attack only to come back this morning.
‘’ As I am talking to you now, many houses were burnt down five lives were lost and some people sustained injuries.
‘’ While in Kente two people were killed and four seriously injured; government should sit up and intervene in this matter.
‘’ We have been defensing for quite a long time, they have been coming to attack our villages and the government has not done anything to nip this crisis on bud!
‘’ Enough is enough, we will not fold our arms, marauders are killing us, we will defend ourselves’’, he exclaimed.
When contacted a Tiv spokesman in the state Orbee Uchiv denied knowledge of the said attack, ‘’ Well, for now I can’t confirm who made the attack but let me check from our people.
‘’But you know they (Jukuns) have been recently attacking our villages in Wukari areas. More than 20 people were killed in different attacks.
‘’Look, it could be recalled here that the whole of my village Ikyaior was burnt by Jukuns. My ultra-modern school with 50 number of computers ,well equipped science laboratory, library, an administrative block, blocks of classrooms, etc were looted and others totally razed down, recently.
‘’ So, who is fighting who? As I said earlier, let me confirm on today’s fight because I am not aware of it,’’ said Tiv spokesman in the state Orbee Uchiv.
Police spokesman in the state David Misal when contacted said, ‘’ I am hearing that for the first time from you, and I have to wait for my officers to report to me,’’ said the police PPRO in a text message.
