Village head, Imam, 3 others killed in Taraba

The village head of Bagoni and Imam of the village were killed in an attack by suspected militiamen yesterday.

Our correspondent gathered that three other persons were killed in Wurbo village also in Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State.

The villages attacked are of Jibawa ethnic group which is a sub group of Jukun.

Many houses were burnt and property worth millions of naira including farm produce was taken away by the attackers.

A resident of Bagoni village who said he narrowly escaped death noted that the Jibawa were not part of the ongoing Tiv and Jukun crisis, adding that the attack was compounding the crisis in the state.

Jibawa youths, it was gathered, are allegedly mobilizing for reprisals on Tiv villages in the area, forcing the exit of hundreds of Tiv people.

A source told Daily Trust that farming activities have been paralyzed in the area as nobody goes  to the farm anymore to risk being attacked.

Police spokesman, DSP David Misal, said the command was awaiting details of the attack at press time.

An emergency security meeting was held at the Government House in Jalingo yesterday, with the participation of senior security officers in the state.