Justin Tyopuusu, Jalingo

Armed Fulani men on Monday evening attacked Karmen community in Ibi local government area of Taraba State and killed a local traditional ruler.

The caretaker chairman of Ibi local government council, Hon. Bala Bako , confirmed the attack and killing in a telephone interview with our correspondent in Jalingo .

Bako told our correspondent that the Fulani gunmen struck when the people of the community gathered for a security meeting .

“ We have some security challenges in Ibi and we have been making efforts to ensure that ethnic groups in our domain accommodate and live in peace with one another.

“ The Chief of Ibi also set up a committee which has been meeting to find solution to the security challenges , and it was in one of the meetings that the Fulani gunmen attacked and killed the traditional ruler.

“ They gathered and were waiting for us for the security meeting when suddenly armed Fulani men emerged and started shooting . The local chief was killed during the attack , using Fulani sticks , by the attackers , ” he said .

The Caretaker Chairman who said he mobilised security men who went and evacuated the corpse said , one person was arrested in connection with the killing and investigation into the attack was ongoing .

Speaking on the killing of eight other persons in Gishiri and Dooshima villages and one other at Danwaza village a week ago , Bako said the killers were the Fulani gunmen who attacked the neighbouring Benue State in Logo and Guma local government areas .

“ We share border with Benue and Nasarawa states and most times these Fulanis crossed from Nasarawa , attack and go back , but we are trying to close all the routes they are using to cross and attack us .

“ The killing in Dooshima and Gishiri around Sarkin Kudu were done by those people who attacked Benue . On their way back to Nasarawa , they killed anyone they met on the way , ” he said .

It could be recalled that attacks on several communities across Taraba in the past weeks left at least 68 people dead in Lau , 11 in Wukari and 6 in Gassol local government areas of the state .

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