Tiv and Jukun in Taraba are trading blame over the killing of eight Fulani along Wukari-Rafin kada road in Wukari local government area of the state by suspected militia.
The chairman of Wukari local government area, Mr Adigrace Daniel accused Tiv militia of killing the 8 Fulani and also attacking Jukun villages
The eight persons were said to be on their way from Wukari to Rafin-kada when the incident occurred.
The chairman alleged that it was the Tiv militia that ambushed 8 Fulani who were traveling in a bus and killed them along Wukari- Rafinkada road.
Adigrace also accused Tiv militia of killing Jukun at Nuka and Ndessin villages in Wukari local government area.
President of Jukun Youths and Cultural Development Association, Zando Hoku, also reacting on the attacks claimed that it was Jukun travelers that was targeted by the militia but the Fulani became the Victims.
He said 2 Jukun,Isa Wumubo a driver who was conveying passengers in a Sharon car from Wukari to Donga and Mrs Rakiya Danjuma Mamman Inda were killed alongside the Fulani by the militia
Mr. Hoku also alleged that last week a Pastor was killed by the suspected Tiv Militia in Rafin kada and an officer of the Nigerian Correctional Service was abducted and killed at Abako Benue State by same group.
The president Tiv cultural Association in Taraba state,Mr Goodman Dahida debunked the claim of both chairman of Wukari local government area and president Jukun Youths cultural Association that it was the Tiv militia that ambushed and killed 8 Fulani and 2 Jukun.
He said there is no presence of Tiv along Wukari,-RafinKada where the incident happened.
He said the Jukun have tried to woo the Fulani to joint them in their fight with Tiv but they failed.
Dahida said the incident was very unfortunate and he had contacted the Fulani leadership in Wukari and condole them.
“We have to be very careful in this situation because other group may disguised and kill innocent persons in order to widen the scope of the conflict” he said.
He advised security agents to conduct a sincere investigation into the killing and also advised the Fulani to remain calm until investigation were conducted.
Taraba Police spokesman, DSP David Misal confirmed the incident.
He said a commercial vehicle was ambushed by unidentified gunmen along Rafin kada-Wukari road and opened fire on them resulting to killing of eight people.
