Herdsmen attack: 56 given mass burial in Taraba

It was emotion laden moment as more than 56 persons killed by fulani militias in Didango village were given mass burial at Abbare, Lau Local Government, Taraba state.

Donaddo, Lavoro, Katibu, Didango and Maku communities were raided by fulani militias in what is perceived to be coordinated attacks which lasted two days with houses razed and about 92 persons killed while 35 people are still missing.

Lamenting on what has befallen the people of the area, relatives of the victims blamed security agents for not mobilising in time to their area within the two days Fulani militias laid siege on their communities.

They denied that the attacks had anything to do with the crisis between Bachama and Fulani but insisted that they were raided without provocation.

Mrs Paulina Habila mother of four who lost the family breadwinner said that they have been made homeless based on federal government failure to protect citizenry.

” My husband was slaughtered like a goat in my presence by Fulani militia. They razed down our community in my village alone 35 persons were shot”.

” Are the Fulani herdsmen fighting war with Christian communities in Taraba state, why are they killing us for no reason?”

Another victim of the attack, Pastor Titus Makovini said that their killers entered the community church where they slaughtered some worshipers while others fled.

According to him security personnel refused to protect them based on their refusal to reinforce to the area.

The affected communities have been deserted as its residents have however vacated their ancestral homes for fear of further attacks.

Some of them relocated to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in the state capital.

Speaking to reporters at the IDPs camps in Jalingo, they said their ancestral homes have become unsafe for habitation since Fulani herdsmen still lurk around but called on federal government for prompt aid.

” Go back to our village all what we have laboured for has gone, we dont know where to start, we keep on wandering if President Buhari is after us by allowing his kinsmen killing us unchallenged”.

Miss Afiniki Lazurus said that they need the assistance of good spirited Nigerians to come to their aid at the IDP camp.

According to her, they only eat once in a day and those of them that are sick depend on the mercy of God for healing.

Taraba State Police Command had however promised residents of the affected communities’ safety, urging them to return home for security shielding.

Image maker of the command said more security had already been redeployed to the troubled communities to safeguard them from reoccurring attacks.

He confirmed that the attacks lasted two days, thus difficult for police to give actual figure of the casualties.

He exonerated the Fulani herdsmen of the heinous crime, maintaining that unidentified gun men attacked the communities.

“We are counting on members of the general public to assist us with any useful information that can lead to the arrest of unidentified gunmen that attack

Political events watchers faulted security agents’ inability to take preventive measures against various recent attacks in the state as it would be recalled that Gov Darius Ishaku had earlier raised alarm of impending attack by suspected Fulani herdsmen in some communities in the state.

Okerafor Athanatius, Jalingo