By Hassan Haruna Ginsau
A delegate from Taraba State yesterday debunked claims that the repeated onslaught on the people of Wukari Town in Taraba state was being perpetrated by Fulani herdsmen as alleged by some agencies of government.
Dr. Salome Jankada, a delegate representing Taraba state, dismissed the claims by asserting that the attackers usually come from outside Wukari and in large convoy of vehicles, often loaded with explosives.
The delegate, who drew the attention of the national conference to the attacks on defenceless people, said the invasion of Wukari by unknown gunmen should be treated with seriousness instead of glossing over it in order to halt the worsening situation.
“What happened in Wukari has nothing to do with Fulani, Tiv and others, we are being invaded. These people came with large convoy of vehicles and bombs,” she said and urged the confab to as a matter of urgent national importance, draw the attention to the ugly happenings.
However, The Police PRO, ASP, Jospeh Kwaji, who said the violence had no religious undertones, suspected that it may have been a reprisal attack by youths in the town, following alleged incessant raids by suspected herdsmen from surrounding villages.
Several people have been killed while others have fled to neighbouring villages as there were fresh attacks on the town yesterday by gunmen.
The Commissioner of police in the state, Kalafite Adeyemi has stated that there are no religious or political undercurrents, assuring residents that everything was under control. However, residents are still appealing to security forces to come to their rescue as they are being held hostage by the gunmen.
Two days ago, the Taraba Police Command confirmed the deaths of seven persons in the violence which broke out on Tuesday night in Wukari. Eyewitnesses however suggest the death toll was far more than the official figures.
