By Stephen Osu
Jalingo
Ethno-religious skirmishes between Fulani and Tiv in Gassol local government area of Taraba state, on Sunday night, escalated to six additional villages with the additional casualty of seven persons, bringing the total to 31.
The six additional villages are both in Sabongida and Nanguru wards in Gassol local government area of the state, but the governor of the state Darius Dickson Ishaku said he is not aware of the renewed attacks.
The community leaders of the two ethnic groups, Ardo Adamu for the Fulani and Goodman Saa Aondo Dahida for the Tiv people both confirmed that there were early morning attacks in more villages.
The police Public Relations Officer, Taraba state command, ASP David Missal confirmed escalation of the attacks but said the number of policemen on ground have been increased and both the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of operations and the commander of the mobile unit in Jalingo have been drafted to the troubled area.
The night of Sunday 18 December 2016, series of attacks were carried out on the villages of Ijorkya 1, Ijorkya 2, Ijorkya 3 and Tse Mchiamine all in Sabongida ward and additional seven people, three women and four men were also killed.
Other places under attack that night according to Emmanuel Aondowase Ajiya a victim of the crisis, were Nonguku and Chia in Naguru wards, all in Gassol local government area of the state.
But, Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku however told Blueprint that he is not aware of the Sunday night attacks, he however said the state government was on top of the situation.
Meanwhile, economic activities in Kafanchan, Kaduna state, have been grounded following imposition of a 24 hours curfew on the area.
Reports stated that the curfew was imposed yesterday by Jema’a local government council to forestall destruction of lives and property following a peaceful protest by youths in the area.
The interim chairman of the council, Bege Katuka, said the curfew would last until the security situation improved.
“We want to ensure that relative calm was completely restored and unnecessary tension averted before a review of the curfew would be considered.
“We will continue to plead with especially our youth to conduct themselves within the provisions of the law and to not to engage in criminality,” he said.
