Gunmen Kill 6 in Taraba

The Taraba Police Command said six persons were killed in an attack by gunmen at a settlement near Rafin Kada town in Wukari Local Government Area of the state on Wednesday.

The command’s spokesperson, Victor Mshelizah, told Daily Trust that the incident occurred at a Tiv settlement close to Rafin Kada in Wukari LGA, which lies along the Taraba–Benue boundary.

Mshelizah said although the command initially received information that 17 persons had been killed, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the Wukari Division visited the settlement and confirmed that six persons died.

He noted that the area where the incident took place is close to the Benue boundary, and relatives of the victims informed the DPO that the bodies had been taken to Benue State for burial.

“The DPO visited the affected settlement but did not see the bodies of the victims. When he inquired, he was told they were taken to Benue State for burial,” Mshelizah said.

However, earlier reports from the area indicated that 17 internally displaced persons who had just returned home to rebuild their lives were killed on Wednesday by suspected militia men.

Daily Trust gathered that the attackers—whose identity or tribe could not be immediately ascertained—stormed Tse Ajogo village in Wukari LGA and killed 17 persons, while eight others were injured.

It was further learnt that many houses were burnt during the attack.

The affected area has suffered years of conflicts between Tiv and Jukun ethnic groups.

The Wukari–Takum road, where both Rafin Kada and the Tiv settlement are located, has become a death trap due to frequent attacks by bandits and militia groups who target travellers both day and night.

Similarly, Tiv residents displaced by past communal clashes have complained that they are still being prevented from returning to their settlements, while their farmlands have allegedly been taken over.

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