13 killed as Fulani herdsmen raid Taraba villages

Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen have killed at least 13 people in separate attacks on communities in Bali and Donga local government areas of Taraba state.

Chief David Gbaa, the Tiv Central leader in Taraba told our reporter on phone that two people were killed in Bornon Kurku around Kungana area while others were killed in Anchogo and Tortondo villages of Bali local government.

Our reporter also gathered that armed Fulani men on Thursday attacked and killed seven people in Igo village in Donga local government.

An eyewitness told our reporter that two days ago, there was a robbery incident in the area where both Tiv and Fulani people were robbed, but the Fulanis acting on false suspicion that Tiv youths were behind the robbery attack that left two dead, attacked and killed seven people in the village.

These latest attacks are coming few days after suspected Fulani herdsmen over-ran several communities in Gashaka and Bali local government areas, killing 44 people.

Chief Gbaa said the attackers burnt eight houses and wounded over nine people who are currently receiving treatment at Santa Maria Catholic hospital and General hospital all in Bali town.

He named some of those killed in Bornon Kurku, Aungwan Gobiri and Tortondo villages to include; Myimanga Agbayongo, Memga Temaga, Tyokpega Kaior, Bem Nomsule and Iorkegh Gbatoon among others.

The traditional leader lamented that the attacks have forced the displaced people who are managing to return to their homes to flee and appealed to the state government to mobilise the task force earlier set up by government to supervise the return of IDPs to to go back to work to prevent the killing of innocent people.

“Government should intervene by ensuring that the Task Force on the security of the IDPs returnees intensify patrol of affected areas to ensure the safety of the returnees especially now that raining season is around the corner.

“The land belonging to the IDPs have been sold out by the local chiefs to strange Fulani herdsmen and any attempt for them to return is being resisted by the attackers who are now claiming ownership of the farmlands,” he said.

He wondered that despite efforts by the governor Darius Ishaku and the Chief of Bakundi Alhaji Muhammadu Gidado Misa to ensure security of IDPs in Bali, some people were bent on frustrating the peace efforts, adding that the situation is worst in areas like Yelwa Kararuwa, Sansani, Yake and Ganso.

Confirming the report, Taraba State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Joseph Kwaji said two Tiv farmers were attacked and killed while sleeping in their round hut by suspected Fulani herdsmen in a village in Bali local government.

On the attack in Donga, the PPRO said two Fulani men were robbers and killed around Igo village and the Fulanis mobilised and attack the village and burnt some houses, but no life was lost.

He added that the command has deployed its men to the area to calm the situation, saying investigation were on to bring the perpetrators of the attack to book.