No fewer than seven people were killed and 16 others injured in a fresh violence that broke out yesterday in Wukari local government area of Taraba State.
The ugly development is coming barely 24 hours after the state election petition tribunal sacked the governor, Darius Ishaku.
It was gathered that trouble started when residents of Wukari reacted angrily to the tribunal verdict.
“When the sad news got to the town, supporters of both parties suddenly started killing themselves,” a resident told Leadership, adding that property worth millions of Naira was also destroyed.
According to him, the crisis has now turned into a Christians versus Muslims fight.
“The crisis, as we are talking, has turned into religious fight. The Christians are alleging that the tribunal chairman, who ordered the removal of Governor Ishaku was biased,” he said.
Reacting to the development, spokesman of the Taraba State Police Command, DSP Joseph Kwaji, confirmed the crisis, but said he was yet to ascertain the actual figure of casualties.
On his part, the senior special adviser on media and publicity to Governor Ishaku, Mr. Slyvanus Giwa, said soldiers had been drafted to the area to control the situation.
“Normalcy is gradually returning to the ancient city of Wukari and government is doing its best to ensure that people go about their normal businesses,” he said.
He warned that anyone who tried to take the laws into their hand would be arrested to face the law.
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