Taraba violence: 35 dead in village attack

Unknown gunmen raided Gidan Yamu village of Wukari local government, killing 35 people and setting the village on fire, BBC Hausa reported yesterday.

Residents said the attackers came with sophisticated weapons and set the entire houses of the village on fire, including the village’s school building.

An eye witness stated that the armed attackers “stormed the village with heavy weapons. They killed 35 people, while the whereabouts of 15 people is yet to be known.

“They burnt the entire houses of the village, including the school. Now the village has been deserted. Nobody is there now. Everybody run away.”

He added that “there are about seven people injured from the attack. But all the dead victims were buried in a mass grave on Tuesday.”

Taraba state police commissioner, Joseph Kwaji confirmed the attack, but said the number of those killed was 17.

“The gunmen, we understand, came to the village through Nasarawa state. But soldiers and police personnel have already been deployed in the area ,”he said.

The Taraba House of Assembly yesterday passed a resolution calling on the acting Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar to request the federal government to take over the security of southern part of the state.

This followed a motion of urgent importance moved by the member representing Takum 2 constituency, Mr Mark Useni on the floor of the house on behalf of the seven members representing the Southern Zone at the state assembly.

The motion was seconded by Mohammed Abdulkarim from Ibi Constituency.

Useni in the motion said the state government had demonstrated lack of capacity to handle the invasion perpetrated by suspected herdsmen in the areas.

The southern Taraba which comprises Wukari, Takum, Donga, Ibi and Ussa Local government areas have been experiencing violence in recent days, claiming scores of lives and property destroyed.

The house unanimously agreed that Umar should urgently request the federal government to take over the security situation in the state to stop further killing of innocent lives.

After a heated session, the Speaker, Josiah Kente directed the clerk of the House, Ismaila Tentenson to immediately communicate the resolution to the acting governor for necessary action.