(Militia attacks. Photo Credit: Nigerian Tribune)
Multiple people have been killed in a fresh wave of att@cks on communities in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State, with residents and local sources attributing the vi0lence to suspected armed militia.
According to accounts from the ground, the latest round of vi0lence began three days ago in Didango village, where g¥nmen ambushed a group of youths who were on their way home after watching an English Premier League match at a viewing centre.
Two young men were reportedly k!lled in that initial att@ck. The vi0lence subsequently spread to the villages of Gaita, Loba, and Lewatha in what appeared to be a series of coordinated assaults, sending many villagers fleeing into surrounding bushes to escape the attackers.
A resident of Mayo-Gauro village, Dauda Bulus, told journalists that the att@cks were organised and allegedly carried out by armed militia from a neighbouring community.
He noted that the affected communities have endured repeated att@cks over the years, resulting in significant loss of life, widespread displacement, and the destruction of property.
Another resident of Didango alleged that the attackers also ambushed a group of farmers returning from their fields, leaving several people with inj¥ries, before going on to launch further ass@ults on neighbouring communities that resulted in additional casualties and forced more residents to abandon their homes.
Sources in the area also revealed that the attackers attempted to strike Gurum village near the Kodai area on Tuesday night, but were repelled by local vigilante groups and community members who had strengthened their security patrols in response to the escalating vi0lence.
A resident, Abubakar Adamu, expressed serious concern over the relentless nature of the att@cks, warning that the recurring vi0lence is a grave threat to peace and stability in the local government area.
He lamented that despite multiple peace meetings and dialogue efforts involving the communities concerned, the att@cks have continued unabated.
He noted that the vi0lence tends to intensify during farming and harvest seasons, severely disrupting agricultural activities that remain the primary source of income for the majority of people in the area.
At the time of this report, security authorities had yet to release an official statement on the latest incidents, and efforts to confirm the exact number of casualties were still ongoing.
