Gunmen attack Taraba villages, kill 20, burn down churches, hospitals

Unknown gunmen reportedly invaded two villages in Taraba State over the weekend, killing about 20 people and burning down about 50 houses while 85 people were reported to have been injured.

LEADERSHIP reports that the villages attacked were Nbishu and Wumban villages in Wukari local government area of the State.

A resident of Wumban village, Mr Jeshua Maude, who spoke to the paper on phone, said that the unidentified gunmen numbering over 60 invaded the two villages about 3:25am on Friday and Sunday mornings and engaged in shooting and burning of houses.

He said that apart from killing 20 people, the attackers razed down up to 50 houses including two dispensaries and two churches.

A native of the state who spoke to NEWSON247 on condition of anonymity said several of such attacks had happened and gone unreported. He alleged that their targets were usually churches and villages dominated by Christians.

When contacted on phone, the spokesman of the state police command, ASP Joseph Kwaji, however told LEADERSHIP that only 13 people were killed by the attackers in Nbishi and Wumba villages.

He added that the attackers were said to have come from Ibi and Bantaji in Wukari local government area of the state. He said investigations had commenced into the matter while his men had been drafted to the area to maintain clam.