Herdsmen kill 6 in Taraba

At least six persons have been confirmed dead as herdsmen clashed with farmers in Yoro Local Government Area of Taraba State after the herders allegedly took their cows into some farms and destroyed crops. Chairman of Yoro LGA,
Hon. Joseph Sonweri, confirmed the killing of six persons and said the cause of the crisis was still not clear. He added that security agencies were on the trail of a boy who allegedly caused the clash.
“I can’t tell you exactly what happened now because we are still trailing the boy that was said to have led the attack. He is on the run and his family has deserted their house. We spoke to him early in the morning but his line is off now, so we are trailing him. It is when we get him or any of his accomplices that we will know exactly what happened,” he said.
He, however, said the situation in the area was calm, as security operatives have been deployed to maintain peace there.
Chief of Yoro, Ado Adamu Mazan, who condemned the killings, told our correspondent in a telephone interview that they have forwarded their complaints to the Commissioner of Police for necessary action.
“It was just a little misunderstanding between herdsmen and farmers in one of the villages. We were told that some
Fulani herders strayed into a farm belonging to a native, leading to the clash.
“We have since forwarded our complaint to the Commissioner of Police in Jalingo, the state capital, and he responded promptly by sending security men to the area,” he said.
The traditional ruler called on the people of the area to tolerate one another in the interest of peace and development.
Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP David Misal, told our correspondent that the command received a distress call about the clash and deployed the Deputy Commissioner of Police to the area to restore normalcy.
Misal said that the command could not confirm the number of casualties yet as investigation was still on. He urged residents to remain calm, saying enough security has been deployed to the area to forestall further destruction.
-Sun