Police in Taraba State have said that 15 people were killed while 2,130 were displaced in the two-day inter-tribal conflict that pitted the Jukun and Hausa communities in Wukari and Ibi local government areas of the state.
More than 1,565 houses, four filling stations and five churches were burnt in the two-day mayhem according to the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Joseph Kwaji, who spoke to newsmen on the crisis in Jalingo on Monday. He said that four shops, eight vehicles and three mosques were also razed down as reported by PUNCH.
Kwaji, while giving a breakdown of the casualties, said that the worse hit was in neighbouring local government area of Ibi where 11 persons were killed, 21 injured, 167 houses burnt and four churches completely burnt down.
Kwaji said that the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 3, Yola, Mohammed Abubakar, had carried out an on-the-spot assessment of the affected areas, describing the incident as unfortunate.
Kwaji said the team took its time to visit the two traditional rulers in Wukari and Ibi council areas and held discussions with them on the way out of the crisis.
He said that more security operatives had been drafted to the warring areas to maintain peace and order, stressing that the visit by top police officers in the state and zone, no doubt, had reduced tension that enveloped the area in the past three days.
He said shortly after discussion with the two royal fathers in their palaces and domains in Ibi and Wukari local government areas on Monday, the AIG further addressed youths in the area to lay down their arms in the interest of peace and development.
Kwaji said the AIG further reminded the youths on the need to tolerate one another, assuring them of police readiness to protect their lives and properties.
Wukari and Ibi local government councils have remained a ghost of itself as motorists and residents are busy relocating from those areas to safer places.
