14 Killed, IDPs Flood Jalingo as Herdsmen Killings Escalate in Bali, Gassol

 

No fewer than 12 people were killed in Gassol and two in Bali Local Government Areas, following attacks by suspected Fulani militia men on Thursday.

 

A community leader, Mr. Orkurga Terkimbi told our correspondent on the phone that 12 dead bodies were recovered around the bushes of Ijever near Sabon-Gida in Gassol local government.

 

This is even as two people were killed and 11 others injured on Thursday night by Fulani militiamen in a community called Pangari  in Bali Local Government Area.

 

Our correspondent gathered that three persons who sustained injuries in the attack in Gassol are receiving treatment in a private hospital in Sabon-Gida, while 11 who sustained injuries in the attack in Pangari are receiving treatment at the General hospital in Bali.

 

Hundreds of people mostly Tiv farmers on Friday flood Jalingo the Taraba State capital, following attacks on communities in Bali and Gassol Local Government Areas.

 

The IDPs who are camping at NKST Church, Mayo-Dassa and NKST Church Kufai among other locations said the attackers sacked Pangari, Sansani communities in Bali and Numbe, Ijever and Sindelde in Gassol Local Government Areas. 

 

Mr. Matthew Baki, Chairman of Tiv Cultural and Social Association, Bali Local Government Chapter told our correspondent that two people were killed on Thursday night and 11 others wounded.

 

"The suspected Fulani militia attacked Pangari at about 2:00am and killed two people while 11 others were wounded.

 

"This morning, the Police in Bali came and evacuated the corpse and the injured to General hospital Bali.

 

"Many people are fleeing the area now. The number of people leaving the area has overwhelmed motorists.

 

"Some women and children are fleeing by foot and heading towards Jalingo and Mutum Biyu axis," he said.

 

In Mutum Biyu, headquarters of Gassol Local Government, a Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr.  George Dogo said his Church was full with people fleeing attacks in some communities.

 

Dogo who lamented the attacks appeal to relevant authorities to arrest the situation. "The escalation of the attacks is worrisome. From the reports I am getting the people are being attacked without any form of provocation. 

 

"I don't really know what is going on, but I want to appeal to relevant authorities to halt the escalation of the attacks and killings," he said.

 

Police Public Relations Officer, ASP. David Misal in a text message to our correspondent said, "the report I received from Gassol indicated some round huts were set ablaze, but no report of lost of life except that one of yesterday."

These renewed wave of killings is coming after  stakeholders of Tiv and Fulani on  last weekend signed an agreement in Jalingo to end the killings and pave way for the displaced people to return to their homes.

 

In a communiqué signed by Alhaji Adamu Abacha (Sarkin Fulani Bali) and Zaki David Gbaa, Ter Bali II and Chairman, Taraba State Tiv Traditional Leaders Council, the groups condemned the attacks and called for a ceasefire.

 

The groups also resolved to come together, forgive one another and  live in peace as brothers and sisters.

 

The communique reads; meeting agreed to set up a 15 man committee to find lasting solution to the crisis and encourage the people to work together for the peace and security of the State.

 

"The committee would preach peaceful coexistence in the local communities in the State and encourage the people to report suspicious movement and criminal activities in their domain to traditional rulers and security agencies."