Five people killed, houses burnt in fresh Taraba violence – Official

Five persons were killed on Tuesday and several houses burnt in a fresh crisis between the Tiv and Jukuns in Rafinkada Village of Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba.

Daniel Adidas, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the council confirmed the development in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jalingo.

He alleged that gunmen in Army camouflage attacked Rafinkada and set several houses ablaze.

The chairman disclosed that a soldier injured in the attack is currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in Wukari.

He said that the deployment of soldiers to the area has brought the situation under control.

David Missal, Police Public Relations Officer of the state police command, confirmed the incident but said only one person killed

“The report I have indicated that armed militia youth crossed from Benue State and attacked a community in Wukari LGA and one person was killed and some houses burnt,” the spokesperson said.

NAN recalls that the crisis between the Jukun and Tiv ethnic groups especially on the border villages between Benue and Taraba States has lingered since March 2019.

The rift had claimed hundreds of lives and led to the destruction of several properties worth billions of naira.

(NAN)