More than 50 people have died today in a violent religious
and ethnic conflict that engulfed Taraba State today. A military source who
spoke to our reporter added that many more people sustained serious injuries.
Our source disclosed that the ethno-religious fight broke
out in Wukari and Ibi towns in Taraba State. “In addition to those who died,
over 100 people are badly injured and receiving medical attention in several hospitals
in the state,” said the military source.
According to the military officer, “The fight started in
Wukari and we were drafted there. While we were there, we received a report
that the fight had escalated to Ibi town. Some soldiers were then drafted there
and they are carrying out patrols now, but I and a troop of soldiers remain in
Wukari.”
The soldier, who disclosed that the fight broke out between
Hausa-Fulani Muslims and Jukun Christians, revealed that he and other soldiers
had counted more than 50 corpses on both sides of the combatants in addition to
more than 100 injured victims.
The military source reported that the warring sides had
destroyed and burnt numerous houses and business premises. He stated that
hundreds of displaced people had fled the area for safety. He also reported
that the combatants used sophisticated weapons in carrying out their attacks.
“If we had not arrived in full force to contain the situation, many more people
would have died because of the caliber of weapons used in this war,” he said.
He assured that the soldiers deployed to the two affected towns would be equal
to the task of maintaining peace.
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