It has now been revealed that security agencies were forewarned on the attack that led to the loss of lives and destruction of properties in Taraba st
It has now been revealed that security agencies were forewarned on the attack that led to the loss of lives and destruction of properties in Taraba state, according to a senior government official, but chose to ignore it. The official, who did not want to be quoted, according to TheCable, said the military had been informed that suspected herdsmen had threatened to invade the town but security personnel did not take the warning seriously.
Three people were reportedly killed while houses and cars were set on fire in an outbreak of violence in parts of Jalingo, Taraba state capital, on Sunday. Trouble started after youth from different ethnic groups clashed in the state capital. Ibro Bala, a witness, said that ATC Kofai, an area largely populated by university students was affected during the crisis.
“It’s actually a clash between herdsmen and a tribe called Kona. It started about two months ago when the herdsmen attacked them in their local communities. So yesterday, Kona youth went on rampage in an area called ATC Kofai, at about 2pm to 5pm, the youth around there started attacking all the people, burning houses that belong to them. Many people were also killed while houses and cars were burnt. Security operatives came around later around 7pm but the boys were still struggling, exchange of gunshot was heard. About five or more cars were burnt down,” he said.
Emmanuel Ishaku, another resident, said a popular market in the area was also affected and people had to leave for fear of retaliation.
“When I was passing on my way to work, I saw a couple of cars that got burnt around Kasuwan Bera and Nuka. From what my eyes saw, there were four cars burnt and then a couple of keke, like six of them were burnt. I heard a couple of shops (inside Nukai market) were burnt and others remain locked. I also saw a lot of people trying to relocate, some packing their things out of the area out of fear of retaliation,” he said.
