The Taraba State Police Command said at the weekend that contrary to various media reports putting the death toll in communal clashes between groups from Adamawa state and the state at 70 while over 50 villages were destroyed; only 17 people were confirmed killed
A statement by the command said, “The reprisal attacks resulted into the killing of fifteen (15) persons bringing the death toll to 17 with several thatched huts/houses burnt while some herds of cattle were also killed.
“In response to these series of reprisal attacks, the Command mobilized over fifteen patrol teams comprising of over one hundred personnel and another fifty mobile force personnel to bring an end to these criminal acts.
The statement continued, “The attention of the Nigeria Police Taraba State Command has been drawn to reports emanating from some Television houses and newspapers captioned “Suspected Herdsmen Kill 42, Sack 12 Taraba Villages” and “73 Dead 50 Villages Burnt in clashes between Hausa-Fulani and Yangdam Communities”.
“These publications are not true reflection of the situation on ground.
“It is on record that on the 05/07/18 Mayo-lope town and surrounding villages came under attack by criminal elements who came from Adamwa boarder communities mainly Youth of the Yangdam and Mumuye under the disguise that some criminal bandits of Fulani extraction who attacked them during a wake keep at boarder Adamawa village were being harbored at Mayo-Lope.
“The attack on some Fulanis in Mayo-Lope led to killing of two persons and setting ablaze of some houses.
“This consequently led to reprisal attacks on soft targets (villages) belonging to the people of Yangdam, Mumuye, Yotti and Fulani located in some remotes parts of the area of Mayo-Lope and Abbare.
“Some of the villages includes: Nyala village, Tudun Village, Sabongida, Bamga dutse, Bamga Sabonlayi, Garin Bako, Abare, Yotti, Bontun, Rakwanjo, Bujum, and Tatilade village all in Lau LGA.
“These reprisal attacks resulted into the killing of fifteen (15) persons bringing the death toll to 17 with several thatched huts/houses burnt while some herds of cattle were also killed.
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“The deaths recorded cut across all the ethnic groups namely, Nyangdam, Mumuye, Yotti and Fulani living in the affected areas.
“In response to these series of reprisal attacks, the Command mobilized over fifteen patrol teams comprising of over one hundred personnel and another fifty mobile force personnel to bring an end to these criminal acts.
“Concerted efforts were also made to get the critical stake holders including traditional rulers and political office holders in the area on the need for them to warn their Youths to shun further act of lawlessness.
“The Commissioner of police, CP David A. Akinremi accompanied by the Deputy Commissioner of Police Operations also visited the affected areas not only to galvanize the men but to also ensure strategic deployment.
“These efforts have brought sanity and restored law and order in the affected areas.
“So far, four suspects of Fulani, Mumuye and Yangdam extractions have been arrested in connection with the crises while exhibits such as one pump action riffle, Dane guns, bows and arrows and cutlasses were recovered from them.
“The arrested suspects are currently undergoing interrogation and will soon be arraigned in Court.
”The Command wish to state categorically that while the gentlemen of the press are encouraged to do their job, there is the need to cross check their information before going to the press.
“The story published by some media houses of the killing of forty two (42) and seventy three (73) persons respectively by herdsmen is far from the truth as only fifteen corpses (though unfortunate) were recovered by the police and other security agencies in the crises area.
“Finally, members of the public are enjoined to continue their support by giving useful information to the Police and other security agencies on security challenges in their areas.
“They should be rest assured of our unwavering commitment in ensuring protection of lives and property of residents of Taraba State, while at the same time warns criminal elements to desist from act of lawlessness as the Command will deal decisively with any person or group of persons who may want take the laws at their hands.”
END
