Six people have been confirmed dead following an attack by gunmen on a settlement near Rafin Kada town in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State on Wednesday.
The spokesperson of the Taraba Police Command, Victor Mshelizah, told Daily Trust that although initial reports suggested 17 fatalities, a visit to the affected community by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Wukari Division confirmed six deaths.
According to Mshelizah, the attack occurred at a Tiv settlement close to Rafin Kada, along the Taraba–Benue boundary. He explained that when the DPO arrived at the scene, he did not find any bodies, as relatives had already moved them to neighbouring Benue State for burial.
“Information first indicated 17 persons were killed. But after the DPO visited the settlement, he confirmed that six people died. The bodies had been taken to Benue for burial,” Mshelizah said.
However, earlier accounts from local sources claimed that 17 internally displaced persons (IDPs) who had just resettled in their community were killed by suspected militia members. Eight others were reportedly injured, and numerous houses were set ablaze during the assault on Tse Ajogo village in Wukari LGA.
The area has long been a flashpoint of hostilities between the Tiv and Jukun ethnic groups. The Wukari–Takum road, which passes through Rafin Kada and several Tiv communities, has become notorious for deadly ambushes by bandits and militia groups who target travellers at all hours.
Meanwhile, Tiv residents displaced by previous communal clashes continue to lament restrictions preventing them from returning to their homes, alleging that their farmlands have been occupied despite promises of resettlement.
