The Taraba police command on Tuesday, May 16, confirmed the death of three persons as a result of the fresh herdsmen and farmers conflict in Bali local government area of the state. ASP David Misal the police spokesman while speaking with journalists in Jalingo said additional personnel had been deployed to Gazabu, Kungana, Tukun Ruwa, Utsua Daa and Kpenkpen villages, where the crisis occurred. He said: “Yes we received reports that since on Sunday, there has been series of attacks in the remote communities in Bali local government area of the state, but the command is on top of the situation.
Due to the remoteness of the affected areas, we can confirm three deaths for now, but we will get back to you as soon as we get more updates.” According to NAN, Zaki David-Gbaa, the chairman of the council of Tiv Traditional Rulers Forum in Taraba, claimed that 11 farmers had died since the crisis started. He noted that people injured in the five villages were receiving treatment at the Bali General Hospital while about 15,000 people displaced by the crisis were taking refuge in three centres in Bali. Alhaji Misa Gidado, in whose domain the crisis broke out, told newsmen that series of meetings with stakeholders were on to resolve the crisis. He also appealed to the state government to deploy more security operatives to the area to restore peace. Widow of the Kindred Head of Ikyo village, who was killed alongside his son in the attacks, Mrs. Mwuese Ajia Kyo, said: “The entire village was calm without any crisis among the Tiv and herdsmen until Sunday night, when some herdsmen invaded my husband’s house in the middle of the night with heavy arms. “My husband and son were killed. I am appealing to the government to take adequate security measures to stop the insecurity problems within our community, because we are farmers and not familiar with arms.”
