TheCable

At least 44 people were killed in a series of attacks by suspected herdsmen on villages in Gassaka and Bali local government areas of Taraba state.

Sylvanus Giwa, senior special assistant to the governor on media and publicity, confirmed this in a statement he issued on Tuesday.

The statement said 20 persons were killed in Angai village, nine in Maisuma, eight in Dorei and seven in Fali.

Giwa said problem started after armed herdsmen were prevented from raping a lady in an unnamed community.

He said the herdsmen, who were angered by the community’s resistance, unleashed terror on the people.

“The government is concerned that the current killings will be a major setback to Gov. Darius Ishaku’s efforts to resettle the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state,” the statement read.

“Gov Ishaku has therefore, vowed to eliminate any form of insurgency by evil agents under any guise across the state.”

The statement said the displaced women and children were taking refuge in Mayo-Selbe, Kungana and Garbabi communities.

Meanwhile, Shaba Alkali, the state commissioner of police, has said that Solomon Arase, inspector-general of police, had approved the deployment of 60 mobile policemen from Yola, Adamawa state capital, to support the forces on ground.

Alkali said one Ardo Ayuba had been arrested in connection with the attacks, saying efforts were ongoing to arrest fleeing culprits. He said the command had discovered 15 dead bodies from the attacked communities.