Suspected herdsmen on Tuesday struck at a suburb of Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, killing six traders at Iware market.
It was gathered that the deceased were also robbed of their cash.
Five of the victims are natives of Mayo-Lope, Lau local government area of Taraba State where scores were massacred and several others injured by herdsmen few days ago.
The other victim, whose name was given as Ethan Nast, is said to be a resident of Damsa local government area of Adamawa State.
An eyewitness, who spoke under anonymity, told the Nation newspaper that the men, already displaced by crisis involving Fulani herdsmen in their area (Lau) on Tuesday came to Iware market with their cows to sell and do some other businesses to alleviate their suffering.
“They were trailed by their assailants all the way from Mayo-Lope where they set off, to Iware where they were hacked to death at the market,” the source said.
It was gathered that three persons were seriously injured. They were taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Jalingo, for treatment but one of them died in the hospital of excess bleeding.
The six bodies were deposited at the FMC’s morgue.
Police spokesman, David Misal, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), confirmed the attack and killings to The Nation.
Speaking with journalists, Misal said: “Six people were killed at Iware market by yet-to-be-identified persons.
“Some people brought cows to the market for sale but were attacked and killed when information got to Fulanis that the cows were stolen ones,” he said.
Misal, who said the police were able to restore calm in the area, disclosed that the Police Command was gathering intelligence on how to trace those behind the attack and whether the attack is a spillage of the violence in Lau.
“We are trying to find out the perpetrators who took the law into their hands, instead of reporting to us, if really a case of cattle rustling was established,” he said.
Comments