Protesting youths kill six in Taraba

Protesting youths in Bela village, Bornon Kurku area of Bali local government in Taraba state on Wednesday mobilised and killed six people NEWSVERGE have gathered.

The protesting youths according to our correspondent were acting on false assumption that relations of their victims were responsible for the robbery incident in the area that left two dead.

NEWSVERGE further gathered that the youths led by the son of the district head of Bela, Maiaungwa Iliyasu were protesting the killing of two persons in a robbery attack along Chediya-Bornon Kurku road.

An eyewitness, Zasha Terpase who said he escape death by the whiskers told our correspondent when he visited the area that when the corpses of two persons killed by unknown gunmen were brought to the village (Bela), the son of the Maiaungwa led the youths to vent their anger on innocent Tiv people killing six.

“On seeing the corpses he went into his room and came out with a gun and shouting Allah Akbar Allah Akbar, shot and killed three Tiv persons instantly. We all ran for safety and they pursued and killed three others.

“I escape by the whiskers, because we all came to see the corpses and suddenly we the Tiv people became targets. It’s unfortunate that anything bad that happen, they usually blame it on us.

“We have just return to the village after attack on us by the Fulani herdsmen last year and we are just managing to survive, no Tiv man will want to go and cause trouble. We are peace lovers,” he said.

A source did not want his name mentioned said the irate youths butchered the corpses of the deceased victims and buried them in a nearby pond to cover their crime and many of them have fled the village.

The source added that the district head, Maiaungwa Iliyasu was arrested on Friday by the police and is currently undergoing interrogation at the Divisional Police Headquarters in Bali.

When contacted, Taraba State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Joseph Kwaji confirmed the incident, saying two persons were robbed and killed by yet to be identified robbers and youths in Bela mobilised and killed some Tiv people in the village.

He said investigations were ongoing by the police to bring the irate youths to book, adding that normalcy has been restored in the village.