An attack on Tse Agbayo, a remote village on Taraba/Benue border, coordinated by suspected Jukun militia working with some herdsmen, has left two persons death, several others injured and property worth millions of naira destroyed
The attack is coming barely a month after a similar gang attacked Apiirgwa, a neigbouring village and killed 6 persons, injured many and destroyed properties worth millions of naira
Survivals of the Tse Agbayo village attack who spoke to our reporter on a telephone interview, narrated that the attackers invaded the village in the early hours of Wednesday and started shooting on any one in sight
“They came around 5:30am when some of the occupants were just waking up. Suddenly, we heard gunshots all over the place and all of us could do nothing but scampered for our safety. They took over the village and set ablaze our beautiful houses here. They slaughtered our domestic animals including pigs, goats and fowls and loaded in their bags
“They also looted our belongings including chemical sprayers, wheelbarrows and other farm tools. As I am talking to you, we all have flee the scene of the area and are taking refuge in Jootar, a Benue border town,” One of the survivals stated
The chairman, Wukari Local Government Area Branch of Tiv Cultural and Social Association, Mr Aondoawase Tar, confirmed the attack, disclosing that the victims have been taken to a mutuary in Jootar while those injured were receiving treatment in different places
He noted that since 2019 when the Tiv people flee their homes from the villages of Wukari LGA, home of Taraba State Governor, following the crisis between Tiv and Jukun, several lives have gone, even as he said the Tiv IDPs are still taking refuge in neigbouring states for the past five years without any attention from any quatter
“We are in pains my brother. We left our ancestral homes for over five years now and nobody is talking about it. The government of both Benue and Taraba are quiet about our pathetic situation. Just recently, similar gang killed six persons here and today two persons have gone. These are helpless IDPs whom the governments of the day have despised.
“The people have taken it upon themselves to hall up here and make ends meet, but here are we. It’s quite unfortunate that these killings have persisted without even the security officers given out account of what they are securing over here
“The security officers have taken over our villages but just to prevent people from going to their homes. We can not fathom what really is the problem. Our villages from Wukari to Jootar, Wukari to Rafinkada, Wukari to Tsukundi, Wukari to Ibi and Wukari to Ikyaior, all are surrounded by both police and military officers yet, the Tiv people are being prevented from returning to their homes for five years now
“We have made several calls for help from both state and federal government but no help has come from anywhere in any way at all,” the chairman lamented
The State Police Public Relation officer, DSP Gambo Kwache, said she would confirm the incident and get back to the press but could not do so up to the time of filing this report
