Police confirm 3 dead in fresh Taraba attack

The police in Taraba State yesterday confirmed the death of three people and injury to no fewer than six others in another overnight attack on Maisamari town in Sardauna Local Government Area of the state by a suspected militia group.

The police spokesman in the state, ASP David Misal, said the incident took place during a cultural event called Nding-Chin. The cultural event was said to be taking place in the area for the first time.

Misal, who said the area was now calm, disclosed that the command had deployed additional policemen to beef up security.

Godwin Sol, Acting Chairman of Sardauna Local Government Council, said the administration had earlier banned all cultural meetings and festivals because of the security situation in the area, and that he was surprised to learn that a group which mobilised their kinsmen from surrounding villages, held a dance event in Maisamari.

He said security operatives were later mobilised to disperse the gathering, but that due to the size of the crowd, a time frame within which to complete the exercise and disperse was given.

Sol said at the expiration of the time frame, instead of leaving the town as agreed, the group relocated to the house of one Yaya Ahmadun to go on with the dance which continued into the night.

“It was while this was going on that some unknown gunmen attacked the place and killed three persons and injured six others,” Sol said.

The council boss said the host of the event in Maisamari as well as leaders of the cultural group had been arrested.