There is currently a violent conflict between two tribes in Taraba State, resulting in the death of at least 10 people.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the incident occurred due to the alleged imposition of a Wurkum tribesman as “Garkuwan Karim” (the Second Class king of Karim) on the Karimjo-speaking people of Karimlamido, situated in the Karimlamido Local Government Area of the state.
Eyewitnesses stated that the crisis began at approximately 7 pm when Wurkum youths clashed with Karimjo youths, soon after the newly appointed king returned from Jalingo, the state capital. The situation quickly escalated, leading to the tragic loss of lives and the destruction of property.
A resident of the area also alleged that Nigerian soldiers who were deployed to the region had aided Wurkum vigilantes in attacking and harming the Karimjo youths, Sahara Reporters reports.
“Some vigilante guys fired life ammunition at Karimjo protesters at a neighbourhood called Step-two, killing three young men instantly.
“In retaliation, angry Karimjo youths advanced into Wurkum villages of Balasa and Gamji and burnt down some houses.
“Surprisingly troops of the Nigerian army drafted to maintain peace, appeared to have taken sides, because this morning they aided Wurkum fighters to kill seven Karimjo youths. Right now there are ten corpses on ground.
“They killed the Karimjo traditional Lahwah worship chief priest and decapitated his head,” the resident said.
However, lieutenant O’oni, the military spokesperson for Taraba command, denied claims that the military was taking sides in the conflict when contacted for comment.
“The Nigerian military is not a tribal institution, there’s no way we can take sides as claimed; our duty there is to maintain peace,” O’oni said.
