Tiv Central leader in Taraba, Chief Zaki David Gbaa, in a phone interview with Saturday Mirror disclosed that two people were killed in Bornon Kurku around Kungana area while others were killed in Anchogo and Tortondo villages of Bali Local Government Area.
Saturday Mirror also gathered that armed Fulani men on Thursday attacked and killed seven people in Igo village in Donga Local Government Area.
An eyewitness told our correspondent that two days earlier, there was a robbery incident in the area where both Tiv and Fulani people were robbed, but the Fulani, acting on suspicion that Tiv youths were behind the robbery that left two dead, attack and killed seven people in the village.
These latest attacks are coming barely one week after suspected Fulani herdsmen over ran several communities in Gashaka and Bali local government areas, killing 44 people.
Chief Gbaa said the attackers burnt eight houses and wounded over nine people who are currently receiving treatment at Santa Maria and General hospitals in Bali town.
He named some of those killed in Bornon Kurku, Aungwan Gobiri and Tortondo villages to include; Myimanga Agbayongo, Memga Temaga, Tyokpega Kaior, Bem Nomsule and Iorkegh Gbatoon among others.
The traditional leader lamented that the attacks have forced the displaced people who are managing to return to their homes to flee, and appealed to the state government to mobilise the task force earlier set up by government to supervise the return of IDPs back to work to prevent the killing of innocent people.
“Government should intervene by ensuring that the Task Force on the security of the IDPs returnees intensifies patrol of affected areas to ensure the safety of the returnees, especially now that raining season is around the corner.
“The land belonging to the IDPs have been sold out by the local chiefs to strange Fulani herdsmen, and attempt by them to return is being resisted by the attackers, who are now claiming ownership of the farmlands,” he said.
He wondered that despite efforts by the Governor, Darius Ishaku and the Chief of Bakundi, Alhaji Muhammadu Gidado Misa, to ensure security of IDPs in Bali, some people were bent on frustrating the peace efforts, adding that the situation is worst in areas like Yelwa Kararuwa, Sansani, Yake and Ganso.
Confirming the report, Taraba State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Joseph Kwaji, said two Tiv farmers were attacked and killed while sleeping in their round hut by suspected Fulani herdsmen in a village in Bali Local Government Area. On the attack in Donga, the PPRO said two Fulani men were robbed and killed around Igo village and the Fulani mobilised and attack the village, and burnt some houses, but no life was lost.
He added that the command has deployed its men to the area to calm the situation, saying investigations were ongoing to bring the perpetrators of the attacks to book.
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