Yesterday we reported that as at the time of filing our report, about 32 houses was confirmed destroyed and about 39 people feared died, but by late evening yesterday, after the smoke had cleared and people were able to ascertain the true state of things, residents now believe that no fewer than a hundred people were feared killed and at least a hundred houses have been burnt to the ground in the violent clash that occurred on Friday in the ancient city of Wukari in Taraba State between the aborigines and Hausa youths in the community.
It is believed that each group engaged each other with guns and other dangerous weapons while forty people have been arrested by the state Police Command in connection with the mayhem.
And in a bid to bring the situation under control, the state government has declared a twenty four hour curfew even as residents of the town have fled to nearby villages in an effort to avoid being caught in the cross fire.
It is believed that the crisis was ignited by an attempt by some youths at Karofi Street in the town to prevent some traditionalists who were on procession as part of burial rites for a deceased traditional Chief, Abe Ashumate who was the Abon Ziken of Wukari.
An indigene of the town who spoke with journalists said they decided to flee the town and take refuge in a nearby bush due to the indiscriminate killing of people by the warring groups.
“Many people have fled the town and are taking refuge in bushes and villages around Wukari. People were being killed indiscriminately and I can tell you that I witness over fifty people being given mass burial. Though I cannot tell you the exact number of people killed, but it would be up to a hundred,” he said.
Insisting that normalcy would soon return to the town, the police stated “a twenty-four hour curfew have been imposed on the town and the residents have been restricted to their houses and as I am talking to you now, the situation has been brought under control and normalcy would soon return to the town”