The number of people killed in the latest violent attack on Tse-Ajogo vihttps://www.nationalaccordnewspaper.com/17-returning-IDPs-feared-dead-8-injured-as-militia-attack-taraba-community/llage in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State has climbed to 19, with women, children and elderly returnee Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) among the victims.
Residents of the community said the attack, which occurred on Wednesday, targeted returnee IDPs who had recently moved back to the village. Despite police authorities saying they are yet to receive an official report, locals on Thursday continued to display bodies of those killed during the assault.
Speaking with our correspondent, a community source, Mr. Achibo, confirmed that 17 returnee IDPs were initially killed during the attack and were hurriedly buried at different locations on Wednesday.
He added that one of the injured victims later died in hospital, while another body was discovered in the early hours of Thursday in nearby bushland during a search for missing persons.
“After the burial of 17 people, one of the injured died in the hospital, and another body was found this morning while we were searching for those still missing. That brings the total number of deaths to 19,” he said.
An eyewitness who narrowly escaped death told our correspondent that at least eight other persons sustained injuries during the attack, while several residents are still unaccounted for.
He also disclosed that seven houses were set ablaze.
Meanwhile, the Taraba State Police Command said it has not received an official report of the incident from its Wukari Division.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Victor Mshelizah, said the command was exercising caution until the situation is formally confirmed.
“I have contacted the DPO in Wukari following calls from different people about the attack, but he said he has no knowledge of the development,” Mshelizah stated.
“We cannot act until we receive a report from the DPO to authenticate how true the information is before taking action.”
