By Hassan Zaggi
Over 60 gunmen wielding various weapons have invaded and killed 15 people in Garin Baka community in Ardo-Kola Local Government Area of Taraba State.
Findings by our Correspondent revealed that the gunmen entered the village at about 7.30pm on Friday and fired gunshots into different directions and set houses on fire.
Findings further revealed that the gunmen also rustled cows and looted shops and warehouses and wounded many residents of the area.
Responding to questions from our Correspondent, a resident of the area, Bala Umar who said he witnessed the incident disclosed that at the time the gunmen invaded the community many residents were in the mosque praying.
Umar, however, lamented that most of the residents were forced to halt the prayers as the community was thrown into confusion when everyone took to his/her heels in an effort to save their lives.
Umar noted that some of the residents escaped into a nearby bush, while some, according to him, were not lucky as they were killed by the attackers.
“I can tell you that those who lost their lives will be close to or more than 20 because many people ran into the bush with bullet wounds. It is likely many will die in the bush. It is only when the situation is under control that we can go into the bush in search of other members of the community.
“It was a terrible day for us seeing many being killed without any offence and no one to protect them.
“As it is now, we have recovered 12 bodies and in search of others who are still missing including women and children”
Our source revealed, however that, police and military personnel have been drafted into the community to secure the people.
As at the time of tailoring this report, the Spokesperson for the Taraba State Police Command, Usman Abdullahi (SP), confirmed the attack but could not give the actual figure of those killed.
He explained that the official report of the incident was being awaited from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the Sunkani Police Division.
