Scores killed, curfew imposed as ethnic clashes break in Taraba
By Terna Chikpa, Jalingo
Unspecified number of persons have been reportedly killed in Takum, Takum local government area of Taraba state, following a fresh clash between Fulani and the Kuteb speaking people of the local government while the Hausa community in the area were alleged to have in solidarity with the Fulani’s, joined the fight against the Kuteb people.
PERISCOPE NIGERIA reports that the Kuteb community of both Takum and Ussa local government have since early 2022, consistently been attacked by the Fulani herdsmen where about 200 of the people have been killed and over 5000 of their houses destroyed.
Our correspondent gathered that trouble started again in Takum town on Sunday when news broke out that some Fulani herdsmen where killed while conveying their cattles to Takum market for sale.
The alleged attack and killing of the five herdsmen was alleged to have been perpetrated by Kuteb people which provoked the Fulani’s to launch a counter-attack on the Kuteb people within the local government and the Hausa community also alleged to have joined in solidarity with the Fulani herdsmen against the Kuteb.
A source reliably told our correspondent that over 20 people were killed in the clash
“Shortly after the news of attack on the five herdsmen, Hausa traders joined forces with the Fulani to counter-attack the Kuteb which resulted in unaccounted deaths and injuries. What I am very sure is, over 20 people lost their lives in the clash.
“Although, when both communities mobilized to continue the attack and counterattacks, the military and other security agencies arrived and dispelled them but already, unaccounted number of lives were taken short before the security came.
When contacted, the chairman of the local government who was kidnapped and released recently, Hon. Boyi Manja, said he was in Jalingo and would only reveal more when he gets back to his hometown, just as he disclosed that curfew has been imposed on the town to allow the security calm the situation.
Meanwhile, Taraba state Police Public Relations Officer Abdullahi Usman said he was yet to be briefed on the incident but will get facts about the development soon.
