From Godwin Agia, in Jalingo
An attack on Tse Agbayo, a remote village on Taraba/Benue border, coordinated by suspected militia group, has left two persons dead, several others injured and valuable property destroyed.
The attack came barely a month after a similar gang attacked Apiirgwa, a neighbouring village and killed 6 persons, injured many and destroyed various property.
Survivors of the Tse Agbayo village attack who spoke to our correspondent on telephone, narrated that the attackers invaded the village in the early hours of Wednesday and started shooting at 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 scamper for our safety. They took over the village and set ablaze our 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 fled the scene of the area and are taking refuge in Jootar, a Benue border town”, one of the survivors said.
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 mortuary in Jootar while those injured were receiving treatment in different places .
He noted that since 2019 when the Tiv people fled 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 neighbouring states for the past five years without any attention from any quarter.
“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 2 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 we are. It’s quite unfortunate that these killings have persisted without even the security officers giving 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 incidence and get back to the press but could not do so up to the time of filing this report.
