SAD! Three Die, Six Injured In Fresh Taraba Attack

The police in Taraba State on Monday confirmed the death of three persons while no fewer than six others sustained injuries in another night attack on Maisamari town in the Sardauna Local Government Area of the state by a suspected militia group.

The police spokesman in the state, ASP David Misal, who confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria in Jalingo, said the incident took place during a cultural event called Nding-Chin.

The cultural event was said to be taking place in the area for the first time.

Misal, who said the area was now calm, disclosed that the command had deployed additional policemen to beef up security.

The Acting Chairman of the Sardauna Local Government Area, Godwin Sol, told NAN that the administration had earlier banned all cultural meetings and festivals because of the security situation in the area.

Sol, however, said he was surprised to learn that a group, which mobilized its kinsmen from surrounding villages, held a dance event in Maisamari against the council’s order.

He said security operatives were later mobilized to disperse the gathering.

The spokesman said due to the size of the crowd, a timeframe within which to end the event was given.

Sol said at the expiration of the timeframe, instead of leaving the town as agreed, the group relocated to the house of one Yaya Ahmadun to continue with the dance which continued into the night.

“It was while this was going on that some unknown gunmen attacked the place and killed three persons and injured six others,” Sol said.

The council boss said the host of the event in Maisamari, as well as leaders of the cultural group, had been arrested.

NAN learned that the injured victims were receiving treatment at the Gembu General Hospital.

The latest incident is coming barely six months after a bloody attack on several communities in Sardauna Local Government Area had left many dead while property worth millions of naira were destroyed.