At least six persons, including a 92-year-old man, were reportedly killed and many others injured following an attack on a farming community by suspected herdsmen. The attack reportedly took place on Sunday, targeted Mararaban Azagwa and Alele villages of Maihula in the Bali local government area of Taraba state.
A resident of the area, who confirmed the unfortunate incident, said the clash started when a Fulani man was found dead on his way home from the market, the deceased relatives suspected that he was killed by the villagers, mobilised and started retaliatory attacks.
“It is an unfortunate development. The relatives of the deceased, who later recovered his body, accused the Tiv villagers, where the man died of being responsible for the death of their brother. 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,” the resident told journalists.
Also responding to the incident, the chairman of the Taraba state Tiv traditional council, Zaki David Gbaa, told journalists that six people were killed with four others in critical condition in the hospital. He identified those killed to include Aondohemba Salemkaan, Tersuugh Dondo, Terkuma Mbatim, Kumaga Ujam Asaaga Nev and Tersoo Memga. The Tiv leader, who condemned the attack, however, commended the security agencies for their quick intervention to calm the situation.
The state police public relations officer, DSP Gambo Kwache, confirmed the attack in a telephone interview, but said only two corpses were recovered by the police.
