By Callistus Agwaza in Jalingo
Six persons, including a 92 -year old man have been killed by gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen in Mararaban Azagwa community, Bali Local Government Area of Taraba state.
Several others people were said to have been injured during the attack on Sunday night
Spokesperson of the Taraba State Police command, Gambo Kwache confirmed the incident in a telephone interview, saying two corpses were recovered by the police.
He added that no arrest had been made so far, but security operatives had been deployed to comb the area in search of the attackers.
A resident of the area, Mallam Isah Abdul, said in a telephone interview that trouble started when a fulani man who said to have been dead drunk and high on drugs was found dead on his way home from Maihula market.
“It is an unfortunate development, the relatives of the deceased Fulani man later who recovered his corpse, accused the Tiv community for killing man.
“There was nothing actually to point to the fact that the man was killed. “He might have probably died from complications arising from the alcohol and the drugs he took.
“But his relatives who suspected he was killed by the Tiv villagers mobilised and started attacking and killing people,” he said
Chairman, Taraba State Tiv Traditional Council, Zaki Gbaa, who briefed journalists in Bali on the development, said six people were killed and four others were in critical conditions in the hospital.
Gbaa identified those killed to include Aondohemba Salemkaan, Tersuugh Dondo, Terkuma Mbatim, Kumaga Ujam Asaaga NevTersoo Memga
The Tiv leader who condemned the attack, however, commended the security agencies for their quick intervention which calm the situation.
He expressed confidence that the attackers would be arrested by security agencies and prosecuted, especially since all of them live in the community and could easily be identified.
