30,000 cows, 180 villages destroyed in Taraba crisis

30,000 cows, 180 villages destroyed in Taraba crisis

Many Fulani herdsmen are reported dead in an attack launched by armed militias in Mambilla, Sarduana local government, Taraba.
Several cows were equally killed in the attack reported to have been carried out in vengeance by the armed groups.
Our correspondent in Jalingo reports that at least 30,000 cows were either killed or taken away, adding that about 80 villages were razed down in the ongoing crisis.
An eyewitness who fled from the crisis-ridden local government told YERWA EXPRESS NEWS in Jalingo that several properties belonging to the Fulani were equally destroyed by the armed groups.
'Between Monday to today, a whole of over 50 families were wiped out', the eyewitness said.
Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria has in a release expressed shock over what it describes as 'wanton destruction'.
A press statement jointly signed by leaders of the community, lamented that 'over 180 Fulani villages in the Mambilla Plateau were attacked'.
They called for urgent government intervention to avert a potentially dangerous situation.
Though the cause of the attack was unclear, Taraba state command of the Nigerian Police attributed it to misunderstanding between the two parties that is already before the court in Gembu.
The court ordered a certain man from among the Mambilla tribes be remanded in prison, as a result of which 'the children of the Mambila man went to the home of the complainant, who is a Fulani man by name Mr. Riwi Ahmadu and demanded for the release of their father or else they threatened to deal with him'.
The crisis erupted later when this did not happen.
According to the police: 'When the demand was not met, they actualised their threat by setting ablaze the house of the complainant and inflicted injuries on him and properties worth millions were destroyed'.
Mr. David Misal the police public relations officer who spoke on behalf of the command reports that seven people have been killed, adding however that the situation has been brought under control with arrests and deployment of personnel, including the Commissioner of Police, Yakubu Baba who has since relocated to the affected area.