Taraba Violence: Death toll in Wukari, hits 24

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Mr. Kwaji, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said 34 persons were injured while 99 houses were burnt during the crisis.

The Nigerian Police in Taraba has said the death toll from the Wukari crisis has risen to 24.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Joseph Kwaji, made the disclosure to journalists on Friday in Wukari.

Mr. Kwaji, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said 34 persons were injured while 99 houses were burnt during the crisis.

Residents of the area had told PREMIUM TIMES that at least 15 people were killed between Tuesday and Wednesday. The police had, however, said seven were killed.

Meanwhile, the state’s Acting Governor, Garba Umar, has said the 24 hour curfew on Wukari would continue till the security agents were satisfied with improvement in security situation.

Mr. Umar said this on Friday in Wukari during a visit to the troubled area to ascertain the extent of damage following the crisis in the area.

“In my opinion, it is not yet time to relax the curfew imposed on Wukari because the youth are still very angry.

“Even this morning a house was burnt close a security check point in Wukari town,” he said.

Earlier, the paramount ruler of the town, the Aku Uka, Shekarau Angyu, appealed to the acting governor to relax the curfew to alleviate the suffering of the people.

The crisis broke out in the town on Tuesday night following protests by youths in the area over alleged incessant killings in nearby villages by herdsmen.

A witness had told PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday that the crisis followed a reported invasion of a Jukun Village of Nwunkyo-Kura allegedly by Fulani herdsmen.

“The village is very close to Wukari and words got to the Jukuns that it was under attack, so some of their fighters went there to support the villagers and in the end some of them were killed,” he said.

He said seven persons were killed in the village and when some of the corpses were brought back to Wukari, it raised tension among the Jukuns.

“There was pandemonium when they saw the corpses and the violence that followed led to the dead of three persons and from there violence took over throughout the night,” he said.