From GODWIN AGIA, Jalingo
No fewer than 20 people have reportedly been killed in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State following outbreak of fresh hostility between the Fulani and the Kuteb speaking people of the council area.
The Hausa Community in the area is alleged to have teamed up with the Fulanis to fight the Kuteb people.
Our correspondent gathered that the Kuteb Community in Takum and Ussa Local Government Area have since 2022, consistently been attacked by the Fulani herdsmen.
About 200 Kuteb people are reported to have been killed and more than 5,000 of their houses destroyed.
National Newsbreak gathered that trouble started again in Takum town on Sunday when news broke out that some Fulani herdsmen were killed while conveying their cattle to Takum Market for sale.
The alleged killing of the five herdsmen was said to have been carried by Kuteb people which provoked the Fulanis to launch a counterattack on the Kuteb people in the local government area.
Sources said the Hausa Community also joined in solidarity with the Fulani herdsmen against the Kuteb.
A source told our correspondent that more than 20 people were killed during the clash.
The source said;”Shortly after the news of attack on the five herdsmen, Hausa traders joined forces with the Fulani to counterattack the Kuteb which resulted in unaccounted deaths and injuries. What I am very sure is, over 20 people lost their lives in the clash.
“Although, when both communities mobilized to continue the attack and counterattacks, the military and other security agencies arrived and dispelled them but already, unaccounted number of lives had been cut short before the security came.
When contacted, the Chairman of Takum Local Government Area, Hon. Boyi Manja said he was in Jalingo and will only speak when he gets back to his hometown.
He however disclosed that a curfew has been imposed on the town to allow the security agents restore normalcy in the area.
The Taraba state Police Public Relations Officer Abdullahi Usman said he was yet to be briefed on the incident.
