Peace committee bemoans killings in Taraba community

The renewed hostility between the Tiv and Jukun ethnic groups in Wukari Local Government Council of Taraba State has become a source of concern for the Taraba Independent Peace Committee.

The hostility that erupted over the weekend reportedly led to the gruesome murder of no fewer than five people, Newsmen learnt.

Condemning the act, the committee, in a statement issued on Monday to newsmen in Jalingo, the state capital, said it was aware that two persons were killed along the Wukari-Tsokundi road and that there was immediate reprisal in Wukari town.

The statement, signed by the committee’s chairman, Professor Tells Ngarka, noted that the tension triggered by the killing led to the yet-to-be-ascertained casualties in the council.

The committee called on Governor Agbu Kefas to urgently wade into the crisis to stop it from escalating to neighbouring villages and local government councils.

Stressing that “there can never be a crisis without a root cause,” the committee called on the governor “to probe the renewed crisis with a view to preventing its re-occurrence.”

“We call on stakeholders in Wukari Council to do everything possible to ensure the restoration of peace. In the days ahead, we will make efforts to meet with the relevant stakeholders and work closely with them in finding a solution to the crisis,” the committee stated.