19 IDPs killed,8 injured,20 others missing as armed militias attack Taraba community
By Daniel Mtindiga, Jalingo.
Over Nineteen Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who returned to their ancestral homes recently to rebuild their lives were gruesomely murdered in the early hours of Wednesday by armed militia at Tse Ajogo village in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State.
The attack, which also left eight people severely injured,twenty others missing and seven houses burnt, has thrown the Tse Ajogo community located about 4 kilometres away from Rafin Kada into deep anxiety for the second time in less than two months.
According to eyewitnesses who narrowly escaped the attack, the attackers arrived around 6:00am and opened gun fire sporadically. Bernard Atom Atoo Tyokongu and Mwuese Gesa, both residents of Tse Ajogo, recounted the horrifying moments.
“The attackers invaded our village located 4 kilometers away from Rafin Kada town in Wukari LGA of Taraba, and started shooting at anyone on sight. So far, we have discovered 19 of our fellow returning IDPs dead.
“Twenty people are still missing. Eight people have been confirmed injured and we are preparing to take them to a nearby hospital,” one of them said.
Chairman of the Tiv Cultural and Social Association, Wukari Chapter, Mr.Aondowase Tor-Orshi also confirmed the unfortunate incident.
Similarly, Hon. Peter Achibo who is the Leader of the Wukari IDPs, also confirmed the incident, describing it unfortunate and pathetic.
He noted that four of the children and one woman who were killed alongside thirteen others, fled from Amadu as a result of the ongoing killings by armed Fulani militias to take shelter at tse Ajogo.
He expressed concern about the safety of Tiv people in Taraba State precisely,in the Southern Senatorial Zone.
He called on His Excellency, Dr Agbu Kefas and relevant stakeholders to as a matter of urgency, address the situation.
However, efforts to reach the Taraba State Police Command for at the time of filing this report proved abortive as the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Lashen James, did not pick his calls.
The renewed attacks have deepened fears among returning IDPs including displaced families hoping to return home, raising serious concerns about the safety of people in rural areas across Taraba state.
