By Godwin Agia, Jalingo
Gunmen suspected to be militiamen on Wednesday attacked and killed four returning Internally Displaced Persons IDP of the Tiv extraction in Tse Yaweh village, located 3 km away from Rafin- Kada town of Wukari Local government.
The Taraba state police command has also confirmed the attack.
The command PPRO Victor Mshelizeh, however told our correspondent that the DPO of the local government was yet to feed the command with detailed information about the killings due to network challenge.
Mr. Terhule Ahuur and Peter Achibo, leaders of the displaced persons in the local government told journalists that the armed men invaded the village around 1:45 am, and stated shooting at anyone on sight.
The IDP leaders narrated that trouble started on Tuesday when armed robbers attacked some Jukun youths while traveling along the Wukari Rafin -Kada road.
“We got report yesterday that gunmen had attacked and killed some Jukun youths along the Wukari Rafin- Kada road. Few hours later, Jukun militia invaded our community and started shooting at people.
“They claimed that killers of their youth were our Tiv brothers.
“As if that was not enough, they came this morning and killed four people, injured 8, while 18 houses were razed down”, the leaders both narrated.
They lamented while the militiamen were always attacking the vulnerable Tiv IDPs whenever there is a criminal attack on their people along the road.
They called on the security agencies, Governor Agbu Kefas, and other critical stakeholders to quickly intervene in the matter and restore peace.
“It is disheartening suspecting a vulnerable displaced person for perpetrating such an act of attacking people on the road. Any time a criminal case of attack on the road occurred, the Jukun youths will rise and start attacking the vulnerable Tiv IDPs without investigation.
“Just yesterday, the Nigerian army captured three criminals who are not of Tiv origin, and many instances in the local government. How then that the Jukun youths now believe all criminal activities and attacks on the their people is coming from Tiv?” they argued.
