Emmanuel Awari, Jalingo
Not fewer than 10 persons were reportedly killed while several others injured in Takum LGA of Taraba State on Sunday, following an exchange of gunfire between the Kuteb ethnic group and the Hausas in the area.
An eye witness told our Correspondent in a telephone interview that the crisis started at about 11:30am in the morning when some gunmen suspected to be Kuteb militia opened fire and killed three Hausas transporting Cows in a pickup Van between Dogon gawa and Army barracks road leading into Takum town.
According to eye witness, the suspected Kuteb militia also killed five Cows being transported by the Hausas .
It was gathered that tension went high in Takum town when the news of the killing along Dogon gawa road, filtered into town as the Hausas allegedly mobilised arms and ammunition to counter the attack.
Our Correspondent gathered that both the Hausas and the suspected militia later engaged themselves in a gun duel for several hours thereby sending the residents of Takum to scamper for safety.
An eye witness disclosed that over 10 persons were killed and several others injured when the sound of gunshot subsided few hours later.
It was gathered that the Kuteb militia who have been at war with the fulanis in the area allegedly vowed to resist any attempt by the Fulanis to transport Cows in and out of Takum.
When contacted, the President Kuteb NYATSO Association, Comrade Emmanuel Ukwen, said he could not give account of the crisis because he was far away in Jalingo.
Meamwhile, the Police spokesman SP Usman Abdullahi said that two persons were killed with several others injured.
He further stated that soldiers and anti riot policemen have been deployed to Takum town to control the situation.
Our correspondent further gathered that a 12 hours curfew has been imposed on Takum and environs to stop the escalation of the crisis.
