While Nigerians celebrated Easter Sunday, it was a bloody day in Taraba State yesterday as no fewer than 15 persons were killed in an attack on Gidin-Doruwa village, Wukari Local Government Area. Twenty residents were injured.
Residents of the village said over 52 houses were burnt down in the attack, which came barely 24 hours after Acting Governor Garba Umar visited Wukari to plead for peace.
Eye-witnesses said the gunmen opened fire on the town in the wee hours of Sunday when Christians were still celebrating the Night of Light to mark the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
When the residents, in the ensuing confusion began to run for dear life, their assailants torched their homes. Churches were also not spared in the attack.
A source said when the CRCN Church caught fire, the youth in the neighborhood started attacking some mosques in retaliation.
Fleeing residents said the attackers came from “all corners” and cordoned the town before they started shooting without provocation. They reportedly sustained the gun fire till yesterday evening.
It was also learnt that the arrival of riot policemen and soldiers did not deter the assailants, who came in large numbers, carrying sophisticated weapons.
One resident said: “The situation here is so bad that some of the security personnel may have decided to retreat”.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Joseph Kwaji, said the arrival of riot policemen from the state command could not end the shootings, and the command got reinforcement from Mopol 34 Squadron, Gombe and 14 Squadron, Adamawa State.
Kwaji, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) said he was still expecting reports from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) on the casualty figures.
“I am trying to get detailed information from the DPO. We are aware that a village in Wukari has been attacked, but I can’t precisely tell the media the number of casualties, the injured and houses burnt now.
“Today’s (yesterday’s) attack and killings were carried out by unknown gunmen”, he added.
Acting Governor Umar has condemned the killings as “unfortunate, barbaric and unacceptable”.
Speaking through his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Aaron Atimas, Umar promised that “government would do everything possible to protect lives and property of the citizenry.
“The perpetrators of the crisis must be brought to book. Government cannot fold her arms and watch her citizens die in the hands of heartless people”, Umar said and appealed to the people to be calm.
Commissioner for Information, Atte Sale Kundu expressed sadness that despite the acting governor’s appeal to the people to embrace peace, there was still an outbreak of violence.
“We don’t know where the problem is coming from”, he said.
Dat govnor na fool so wit ds nigeria d way e big lyk ds u tink sey u fit dey fool us,catch ds ppl and let everytin ends stop givin ppl fake promises.I knw d reason y u aguyz are not doing anytin about ds tin is coz u are not hurt weather wit ur family or cosine if not u wuld av do sth.dat is y we are blaming ds mumu boko haram wey dey no get sense.I knw God is seeing evrytin ur dyz are noba.
The Jews tried everything they could to stop Christianity at it early stage but failed, now even (Allah) himself cannot stop it. The almighty God who created the heaven and earth who also made Christianity the only right way to the salvation of the soul, is greater and will strengthen the faith of all Christians who serve him in spirit and in truth even if the bomb are to be ration @ one Christian to one bomb God will never forsake his people. The bible condemns rivench. So there is no way a Christian will lay a finger on a Muslim nomatter what happen. Matthew 5:38-48, Romans 12:14-21. God bless the souls of those who died in faith with Immortality, God bless Islam, God bless Christianity and God bless Nigeria!!! Allah may just be great but God is the greatest. One God one religion, Christianity all the way.