Wole Ayodele in Jalingo
Police authorities in Taraba State have confirmed the killing of nine persons by suspected herdsmen at Tutuwa village in Ussa Local Government Area of the state.
Three persons also sustained serious injuries in the attack which occurred in the early hours of yesterday when residents of the community were going for early morning prayers.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), David Misal, who confirmed the killings to journalists said the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of the Command, Alhaji Aliyu Tafida, had led other heads of security agencies in the state to the community to assess the security situation in the area.
Also confirming the incident, the Chairman of the local government council, Mr. Rimansikwe Karma, told journalists that the attackers rounded up the village at about 5a.m. and shot sporadically killing anyone in sight.
According to him, “Every Wednesday morning, the community conducts mid week service and most of them were on their way to the church in the morning when the armed militia attack them.
“Nine persons were killed by the attackers while three others sustained life threatening injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the Takum General Hospital.
The chairman, who expressed bitterness over the killings which have become recurrent in the local government area, lamented that the assailants were able to escape before the arrival of security men in the area.
The Governor of the state, Darius Ishaku, had recently debunked President Muhammadu Buhari’s assertion that herdsmen in Nigeria don’t carry arms but sticks, saying there are overwhelming evidence that the herdsmen carry AK47 rifles which they use in killing people across the country.
