Death Toll Rises To 14 In Taraba Communal Clash

The death toll in the communal clash that broke out, Thursday, between Jukuns and Hausas in Ibi Local Government Area of Taraba State has risen to 14, with two Soldiers among those killed.

 

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Taraba State command, ASP Joseph Kwaji confirmed the deaths to Journalists in Jalingo on Friday. He added that sixteen people also sustained varying degrees of injuries in the hostilities. A total of twelve houses were completely razed during the mayhem. Earlier reports however put the number of houses destroyed at 40.

Kwaji, while narrating the cause of the clash said “trouble started in the town when a man (who was later identified by residents as Emmanuel) was attacked and robbed of N200,000 at about 5:30p.m.

On Wednesday on his way from Wukari where he had gone to withdraw money for the treatment of his father.

“At about 5:30p.m. on Wednesday, a man from Ibi who went to Wukari to withdraw money for the treatment of his father who has been sick for sometime was attacked by unknown persons who robbed him of the N200,000 and collected his handset on his way coming back to Ibi.

“And at about 4:30a.m. today (Thursday), Ibi residents were woken by the sounds of gunshots that rented the air as there were sporadic shootings in the town but the situation was promptly brought under control by security operatives including army personnel,” he had said.