According to reports, suspected herders have killed at least eight people in the Jenuwa Nyifiye hamlet in Taraba State’s Takum local government area.
The Nigerian Tribune received confirmation of the event from a traditional leader, HRH Kwe Godson Danlami Wasa of Jenuwa Gida Nyifiye. He claimed that on Sunday, July 2, 2023, the attackers—numbering over 300—invaded the neighborhood near to the Army 93 Ada barracks in Takum.
Without encountering any resistance from security personnel, they slaughtered eight people and burned down many residences.
According to Chief Danlami, when the majority of the villagers arrived back from their farms, the murderous herdsmen attacked the Kuteb Community.
“The attackers numbered over 300, and our local vigilantes were unable to repel them due to the types of weapons they were using. This community is less than 2km away from the 93 Army Ada barracks in Takum, but the soldiers did not intervene in the situation,” he explained.
“Some of the victims were burnt beyond recognition. The attackers freely burned our houses without facing any challenge from the security forces.
“These same killer herdsmen had previously attacked and killed many people in the Mbiya, Tamiya, and Faenta communities on Sunday. The bandits have several camps within and around Takum town, operating freely without encountering any resistance. The communities being attacked belong to the Kuteb ethnic group.
“Between January 2022 and now, these bandits have killed over 200 of our people, with over 3,000 houses destroyed, and over 10,000 members of the Kuteb ethnic group displaced,” narrated the traditional ruler.
The traditional ruler urged the federal government and Governor Agbu Kefas to step up efforts to put an end to the unwarranted attacks and killings of Kuteb people.
However, the Taraba State Police Command verified the event through its spokesperson, DSP Usman Abdullahi, but reported that just three individuals were murdered in the attack.