A farmer identified as Tsunatu Danjuma has been confirmed killed after a group of gunmen suspected to be fleeing gang members of the late notorious criminal Terwase Akwaza a.k.a Gana stormed a community in Taraba state.
It was gathered that the victim was murdered while working on his farm along with a relative.
The incident prompted residents of the Rafinkada community in Wukari Local Government Area, to flee their homes for safety.
The incident was confirmed by the Chairman of the council, Daniel Grace.
He, however, called for calm, asking all fleeing residents to return home.
“I received a distress call at about 10:00 am from Rafinkada community this morning, immediately I mobilized the security agencies and we moved to the site to douse tension,” he said.
“Unfortunately, before we could get there, the damage had been done already and we found the corpse of one of the residents who was shot dead in his farmland.
“The militiamen are suspected to be the remnants of Gana boys who launch attacks and retreat to the surrounding forests.
“We are not giving up, though we found one dead body, we will still comb the bush for others who claim their relations are nowhere to be found.
“For now, the residents are gradually returning and security agencies have been drafted to the area to build their confidence as a peace-building mechanism”.
According to the chairman of the council, arrangements have been concluded for the burial of the deceased later on Thursday.
Meanwhile, when contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abdullahi Usman, said the report of the incident was yet to reach his desk.
He, however, assured that the situation will be addressed and the perpetrators arrested.
Rafinkada community is about 30 kilometers from Wukari the headquarters of Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State.
The affected community has been a haven for investors in agri-business in Taraba and has been the major producing community for a variety of crops.
This is the first incident that has occurred in the area since the Tiv versus Jukun crisis subsided and a truce was reached about two months ago.
