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Tag: Crisis

  • Crisis: APC Governors seek presidential intervention

    Crisis: APC Governors seek presidential intervention

    The Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, has said that all contentious issues surrounding the leadership crisis confronting the All Progressives Congress (APC) will soon be reconciled.

    Bagudu stated this when he addressed State House correspondents at the end of a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, on Monday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Bagudu was accompanied to the State House by Governors Simon Lalong of Plateau and Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa.

    He said the governors were in the State House to share with the president the Progressive Governors’ position on how best to address the lingering crisis facing the APC.

    “Today, my brothers the Governor of Plateau State Simon Lalong and the Governor of Jigawa State Abubakar Badaru and myself visited President Muhammadu Buhari as our party leader, as the leader that millions of Nigerian trust, to discuss party issues and the position of the Progressive Governors to support all steps to unify and bring about peaceful resolution in our party the All Progressives Congress.

    “The President listened to us attentively and discussed with us as a father, as a party leader and gave us all the assurance needed to know that resolution of contentious issues will soon be arrived at.”

    Bagudu, who is the governor of Kebbi, described President Buhari as a democrat that allows all arms of the party to function according to the provisions of the party’s constitution.

    “At all times the President has shown that he is a democrat. He is not running the party; yes, he is the party leader but he allows the party’s organs to do and decide what should be done.

    “He is very hesitant to use his standing even as party leader talk less of his authority as President of the country to direct things,’’ he added.

    According to the governor, in any political assembly, there are bound to be recurring issues because a political party is never a perfect assembly.

    Bagudu agreed that it was necessary for the National Executive Committee of the party to meet as part of steps towards resolving the crisis.

    “I believe that whatever needs to be done including the possibility of calling any of the organs of the party that is necessary for the resolution of lingering issues will be done immediately.

    “Let me again say that the party is never a perfect assembly.

    “There will always be issues and that is why we talk, but yes certainly, organs of the party needs to meet and Mr President without directing is always supporting the necessity of party organs meeting appropriately,’’ he said.

  • Two killed in Ebonyi as two communities clash

    The relative peace in restive Ishielu local government area of Ebonyi may have been broken with the killing of two persons in Umuhuali community on Wednesday.

    The victims of the crisis include a 13 years old boy, Izuchukwu Promise of Ezza Umuhuali and a 50 years old man, Emeka Nwannaji, of Umuhuali.

    It was gathered that Izuchukwu had gone to the forest to fetch firewood where he had an altercation with Emeka.

    It was further learnt that Emeka in the process killed Izuchukwu.

    The murder of Izuchukwu, who is from Ezza Umuhuali community angered youths of the area who attacked and killed Emeka.

    It was gathered that youths of both communities clashed following the killings leading to destruction of some properties.

    A source told our correspondent that the Nkalagu – Eha-Amufu – Ikem – Nsukka federal road that passed the two communities was blocked on two sides by the two communities preventing motorists from accessing their respective communities.

    Police Spokesman, Loveth Odah confirmed the incident.

    According to her, the youths of Ezza Umuhuali took laws into their hands by matcheting Emeka to death.

    She said the Police Command on getting the report swung into action by sending patrol teams to the area to restore nomalcy.

    “Police have launched investigations into the incident. We urged the people to remain calm. People should not take laws into their hands but seek for justice by reporting to the Police’, she said.

    She said the Acting Police Commissioner, DCP Yekini Ayoku has visited the area and have promised that Police will investigate the incident and prosecute all those involved.

    Chairman of the local government area, Henry Eze confirmed the incident.

    He said certain political interests in the area are trying to unsettle the peace in n the area which the state government have worked hard to achieve.

    “We are resolving the issue. Their is no cause for alarm. Government have waded into the matter”, he said.

    It will be recalled that Ezillo community, headquarters of Ishielu Local Government Area a seend Ezza-Ezillo had in 2012 engaged in a communal war that claimed scores of lives including strangers who were caught on the web of the crisis.

  • ‘Boko Haram crisis getting worse’

    The Nigeria Head of Mission of Medicine San frontier Mr. Luis Eguiluz believes the Boko Haram crisis in the Northeast is getting worse and the humanitarian needs are getting massive by the day.

    Eguiluz,in an interview published on the MSF website said that over seven million people directly affected by the crisis are currently dependent on humanitarian aid for survival.

    More than two million people are displaced.

    “After more than 10 years of conflict between non-state armed groups and the Nigerian military, the situation is only getting worse,” he said.

    He added: “ The conflict is intensifying and the needs are massive. The United Nations estimates that there are more than two million people who have been displaced from their homes due to violence, and more than seven million who depend entirely on humanitarian aid to survive.

    The most serious problem is that there are more than a million people living in areas controlled by non-state armed groups – humanitarian organizations do not have access to these areas, and the people living there do not receive any kind of aid at all.

    “The conflict may be nothing new, but this crisis is extreme, and it is happening right now; in our projects we witness the impact that it has on human beings.”

    Eguiluz who has served out his mission in Nigeria explained that providing humanitarian services to those in dire need has also become a serious challenge to aid workers following the killing and abduction of some of the aid workers.

    His words: “The security situation has clearly deteriorated in recent months, and it is a challenge for humanitarian organizations to provide adequate assistance to the population. On the one hand, organizations face the risk of violence – unfortunately, the killings and abductions of humanitarian staff have increased in recent months – and because of this, the presence of aid is very limited outside the state capital, Maiduguri. On the other hand, counter-terrorism laws in Nigeria impose real limitations on humanitarian action and principles.

    “In ‘garrison towns’ – towns controlled by the Nigerian military – there are still critical needs that are not covered, especially when it comes to healthcare, clean water, shelter and protection. In many cases, the population is totally dependent on humanitarian aid to survive.

    “In the case of Pulka, the population has tripled since the beginning of the conflict and there isn’t enough farmland to cultivate. In addition, people cannot go beyond the town’s military perimeter. If they do, they run the risk of being attacked by non-state armed groups or being considered part of the armed groups by the Nigerian military. And outside the garrison towns, the needs are expected to be even higher since there are more than one million people that have not received humanitarian assistance since the beginning of the conflict.

    “In our projects we run outreach programmes, which identify people who are more vulnerable and at risk of violence, exploitation or the loss of basic rights or services. Our first priority is to ensure medical care. “

    Then, based on their needs we identify organizations that ensure access to appropriate assistance and services, such as child protection. This is especially important in the case of unaccompanied minors who reach these garrison towns. Often these children have experienced several episodes of violence, and may easily become victims to further abuse.”

  • Edo political crisis self-inflicted, says APC chieftain

    Edo political crisis self-inflicted, says APC chieftain

    A stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo, Mr Peter Esele, has decried the political crisis rocking the state chapter of the party, describing it as self- inflicted.
    Esele made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Wednesday.
    The APC governorship aspirant in the 2016 poll said that the differences were personal and selfish rather than ideological or issues-based.
    “It is sad to see that the present disagreement in the party is all about ego and who gets what,” he said.
    He advised the people of Edo to be vigilant and learn to ask questions in order to have an informed opinion rather than taking sides blindly.
    Esele said: “People should ask if this disagreement in Edo is about healthcare, education or infrastructure for the people.
    “I will be interested in seing politicians quarrel or disagree on issues that affect the common man and not issues of ego or playing to the gallery.
    “Initially, they said Gov. Godwin Obaseki is the best thing to happen to Edo, now the same people who brought him are the ones saying he should go.
    “I want to see disagreements among politicians being based on ideas.”
    The former labour leader also called for speedy resolution of the crisis over the inauguration of the state House of Assembly for the progress and development of the state.
    He opined that the court remained the best place to resolve the crisis that arose from the inauguration.
    “If a matter suits you, you will interpret it in a way that everybody thinks it is a crime.
    “Why don’t we ask ourselves these questions? The House was inaugurated based on a letter of proclamation transmitted to the Clerk of the House, so what is next?
    “What we should ask ourselves is whether the inauguration was wrong.
    “If it is wrong, we go to court and if the court then says that the act is illegal, then we start all over again,” Esele said.
    He advised that every action in a democracy must be based on the rule of law.
    “We can disagree and argue over issues. That is why we have the judiciary as the arbiter to interpret the law.
    “I do not subscribe to the issue being taken to the National Assembly because the members there are all politicians and the issue of interest would come to play,” he said.

  • Election postponement may lead to full blown crisis if…Bayelsa Gov, Dickson raises alarm

    Election postponement may lead to full blown crisis if…Bayelsa Gov, Dickson raises alarm

    Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has warned of a looming major constitutional crisis, if the elections failed to hold as rescheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Dickson, who briefed reporters in Government House, Yenagoa, said there was a need for stakeholders to work collectively to avert the crisis.

    Dickson suggested that President Muhammadu Buhari should immediately convene an expanded emergency meeting of the National Council of State.

    He said the meeting should have the service chiefs, INEC, political party leaders, their candidates and other major stakeholders in attendance.

    He said the stakeholders should resolve on the new date for the postponed elections, adding that INEC was wrong to have unilaterally chosen next Saturday for the rescheduled polls.

    He cautioned leaders against name-calling, appealing to them to work in the interest of the country to avoid plunging Nigeria into avoidable succession crisis.

    He said it was unpatriotic for anyone to be calling for the removal of the INEC chairman, adding that the country would be on a crossroad, if two critical institutions – INEC and the Supreme Court – were undergoing crisis at the same time.

    He said: “This postponement belittled our country. It doesn’t show us as a serious country. Unless all stakeholders drop the habit of name-calling and claiming to be rights, we are moving close to a major constitutional crisis.

    “If anything should go wrong, we will have a full-blown crisis; crisis of succession at a time the Supreme Court is also undergoing crisis. We should not call for the removal of the INEC Chairman. If INEC is in crisis and the Supreme Court is crisis, I don’t know where we are headed.

    “I call on President Muhammadu Buhari as the leader of the country to convene an emergency meeting of the National Council of states to enable service chiefs and the INEC brief stakeholders on their preparations.

    “The meeting should involve the political party chairmen and the presidential candidates to examine the developing scenario, which may plunge our country into crisis. I believe that if we all sit down and know the circumstances, we should agree on a new date.

    “I disagree with INEC’s unilateral announcement of Saturday as a new date. I do not believe that all the challenges that INEC has can be resolved within six days. A more sensible approach is needed. Our nation cannot afford another postponement.”

    The governor noted that few hours to the postponed elections, Bayelsa did not have ballot papers for presidential elections and stamps to authenticate votes.

    “Even now, I am told there are issues of unserialised ballot papers”, he said.

    The governor hailed Buhari for calling on security agencies to deal ruthlessly with troublemakers during the election.

    He said by such presidential directive, security agencies should no longer be encumbered from doing their jobs without fear or favour.

    He particularly appealed to security agencies to ensure the application of the directive in Bayelsa, especially in areas like Ekeremor and Brass, where he said some known political figures had been fomenting troubles.

    Dickson called on the electorate to maintain their momentum and not to be discouraged by the postponement.

    He also disagreed with INEC on suspension of campaigns, saying that his party would continue to engage the people in accordance with the established law of the land.

    Dickson, who insisted that it was unfortunate that INEC postponed the poll despite all the preparations in the state, including declaring a two-day holiday, asked stakeholders to work against further shift.

  • Effurun crisis: Delta police engage stakeholders

    The Nigeria Police, Delta Command, on Thursday said it was engaging relevant stakeholders on how to end the protracted crisis in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the Command, DSP Mr Andrew Aniamaka, disclosed this in Warri.

    Aniamaka also said the Command had commenced preliminary investigation on the early Monday crisis that led to the death of five persons in the area, adding that it had taken necessary measures to forestall recurrent of the incident.

    “We are talking with the relevant stakeholders and preliminary investigation has commenced on the recent crisis in which five persons were confirmed dead in Effurun, “ he said.

    “The police is taking all the necessary approach to forestall peace in the area.”

    The five persons were allegedly killed while many injured in a renewed clash between perceived loyalists of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Effurun.

    However, Mr Ramson Onoyake, Chairman, Uvwie Local Government Area, debunked the claim that the crisis had link with political parties.

    “The crisis has nothing to do with political parties, it was perpetrated by hoodlums and arrest has been made.

    “We have started arms mop up and anybody found with arms will be prosecuted, ” he said.

    Onoyake urged the electorate to come out and vote without fear of intimidation, saying that security had been beefed up in the area.

    “Surveillance patrol team is on ground and securitymen have been stationed at the black spots in Jakpa, Alaka and Udumurhie areas,” he said.

    The chairman, however, said that there was no curfew in the area as reported by some media organisations.

     

  • [Interview] Rivers APC crisis, temporary setback – Dakuku

    [Interview] Rivers APC crisis, temporary setback – Dakuku

    INTERVIEW WITH THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF NIGERIAN MARITIME ADMINISTRATION AND SAFETY AGENCY (NIMASA), DR. DAKUKU PETERSIDE, AT THE PORT HARCOURT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2019.

    As the Deputy Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, are you comfortable with what is happening in the party now, especially the removal by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of names of candidates of APC in Rivers State on the list of candidates that will vie during the February 16 and March 2 general elections?

    Politics is a process, it is not an event. It involves a number of activities and usually there will be an outcome. What is going on in the Rivers State APC is unfortunate, but it is part of the political evolution process. I am pained that it even happened in the first place, but I know that it is not the end in itself.

    What has happened in Rivers APC is some sort of temporary setback. I am optimistic that APC’s candidates will be on the ballot. I am very, very optimistic. I know that the judiciary is an important component of the political process. You cannot talk about politics, without talking about the judiciary and the roles of the judiciary, but my confidence is that ultimately, this issue will be resolved and APC’s candidates will be on the ballot, they will run the elections and Rivers people will have options. They will choose the candidates of APC above the other political parties.

    The other political party (Peoples Democratic Party) has disappointed Rivers people on all fronts. What the party (PDP) has done in the past three years and some months is to make more and more people lose confidence in the institution of government of Rivers State. They have embarked on outright lies, concocted stories and half truths. Rivers people are indeed tired of the mess. They cannot wait to get rid of the current government of Nyesom Wike. APC provides Rivers people the alternative, but unfortunately, we are going through our own challenges.

    Let me take advantage of this opportunity to plead with all members of APC to remain calm, confident, loyal and keep trusting the Almighty God. The end of this tortuous journey will come and it will be to God’s glory. All hope is not lost. Indeed, no hope is lost. One thing I am pretty sure of is that at the end of the tunnel, there is light and it will be to God’s own glory.

    We have embarked on series of engagements to get all the sides of the party and to get different interests in the party to understand that it is in our own interest to work together, that it is in our own interest to pursue the path of peace, unity and of course working for a common purpose. You cannot have a team, if you are not working for a common purpose. If you have persons working together at cross purposes, they will never achieve result.

    The only way to achieve result is when you work towards a common purpose. That actually makes you a team. We are a team of patriotic and progressive citizens of Rivers State, who want the best interest of Rivers State, as against our opponents in the other party (PDP), who are self-serving and usually pursuing their own narrow opportunistic interests.

    You are very close to Transportation Minister, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, a former Governor of Rivers State, who is the leader of APC in Rivers State and the South-South zone, but some members of your party in Rivers State are accusing him of being responsible for the crisis and that he should be blamed for the confusion. What is your reaction?

    It is not true that the Hon. Minister is responsible for the crisis. I do not believe that this is the time for blame game. A lot of things happened and blame game will not help us in any way. So, even as the leader of the party, it is wrong for me to join in the blame game.

    Depending on where you are standing, people accuse different individuals of being responsible. Some persons would say some persons are over ambitious outright and that because of their ambition, we are where we are. Some said some persons were uncooked in their language. Some accused the young people in the party of not handling their emotions with maturity.

    People have right to hold their opinions. You cannot hold it against anybody for holding an opinion. One thing that all of us have built consensus around and we are unanimous about is that there is a time for war and there is a time for peace. This is the time to ceasefire, engage with one another and to allow the common interest to prevail, over our narrow parochial interest.

    No man’s ambition should be superior to the collective interest of the party (APC) and Rivers people. Not mine, not anybody’s own. Nobody’s interest should be superior to the interest of the collective.

    So, I do not believe in the blame game. I do not support it. I will not embark on it. Rather, it is for all of us begin to engage with people. Let them see reason why we must all come to the table and agree on the best way forward and indeed work out a way forward, so that we will go and take over Government House, Port Harcourt from May 29, 2019 and begin to change the narratives in Rivers State.

    One of the governorship aspirants on the platform of APC in Rivers State, Senator Magnus Abe, who represents Rivers South-East Senatorial District, earlier stated that for peace to reign in Rivers APC, the governorship candidate of the party, Pastor Tonye Cole, must step down for him. Will the option actually ensure peace in the party, considering the fact that Rivers APC does not have candidates for the forthcoming general elections?

    It is not true. I have had cause to engage with Senator Magnus Ngei Abe and he could not have taken that position. I can say it on good authority that his minimum condition cannot be that Tonye Cole should step down for him to become the governorship candidate of APC in Rivers State. He has never said so. He realises the need for all of us to work together and I believe that reason will prevail at the appropriate time.

    Are there plans to settle out of court?

    All options are on the table. There is nothing anybody can rule out. What matters to all of us is the victory of APC in the elections and whatever needs to be done and whatever should be done will be done, to ensure that we all operate on the same frequency, to deliver the party (APC) in the elections.

    National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives) elections are four weeks away, while the state’s elections are six weeks away. That is not a lot of time in politics. It is actually time to consolidate and get the buying-in of the people of Rivers State, get their support, coast home to victory and sing the victory song for the good of the people of Rivers State.

    Would members of Rivers APC have done things differently to get different result from the current situation?

    In all cases, there is always room to do things differently, even for the best of the best. There is no case where you have only one way of achieving result. So, it is possible that things could have been done differently and we would have got different outcome, but I do not think that is the issue now. We have gone past that stage.

    The issue is that there is critical need for all of us to come together to work towards a common purpose. There is the need for all of us to lay aside our different interests and the different weights that thus far oppress us.

    I want to reassure members of APC and indeed all Rivers people that the APC will be on the ballot, there is need for all of us to be calm, there is need for all of us to work together and there is need for us to remain confident of the judicial process, that it will turn out for our good, ultimately. Most importantly, beneath all of this is the need for unity and the need for us to work as a team. No one person can do it alone.

    Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, accused Transportation Minister (Amaechi) of being behind the trial of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, with the intention to remove him for not supporting the APC and its candidates. Is it true?

    Nothing can be more spurious, laughable and childish than that statement by the governor of Rivers State. I am not taken aback at all, because the governor is known to promote lies as truth, he has also acquired the status of a pathological liar. Wike is a man who concocts stories, distorts facts and presents half-truths as the truth.

    In this specific instance, there is no iota of truth in it. Rt. Hon. Amaechi has absolutely no hand in the matter. He is not a judicial officer, he is not an intelligence officer and he does not work for any of the intelligence agencies. I cannot understand the connection between the work of the intelligence agencies, the anti-graft agencies and the judiciary. There is absolutely no iota of truth in it.

    Wike claimed that transportation minister had conversation with somebody that he (Amaechi) was behind the CJN’s travails. There is no truth in it. It is the trademark of Rivers governor to concoct stories. Rivers people and other Nigerians know Wike for who he is. So, I do not believe that anybody will take him seriously.

    As alleged by Governor Wike, is it really true that members and leaders of APC in Rivers State have Plan-B of working with the governorship candidate of Accord Party, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, who until about three months ago was a governorship aspirant on the platform of APC, in case you are not successful with the court cases?

    Wike is not a member of APC. Wike is not a member of our political family and he cannot be a member of our political family. When Rivers governor embarks on these kind of wild lies and baseless allegations, they ridicule him. There is no truth in having Plan-B or working with Dumo Lulu-Briggs.

  • Crisis: Abuja-Kaduna train services suspended – MD

    The Managing Director, Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr Fidet Okhiria, said on Saturday that the Abuja-Kaduna train services has been suspended till the security situation in Kaduna improves.
    Okhiria made this known tto the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview in Abuja.
    He said that the train service was suspended on Friday because of the safety of the passengers, goods, coaches and wagons.
    “We decided to stop the train services yesterday (Oct. 27) because of the curfew and the crisis situation in Kaduna, passengers cannot go in and out of Kaduna and for the safety of the passengers and our vehicles we decided to stop the services.
    “We will resume normal operations when the situation in Kaduna state improves and the curfew is lifted,” he said.
    NAN recalls that the Kaduna State Government has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Kaduna city and environs due to violent clashes recorded on Oct. 18 at Kasuwan Magani in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state and a fresh crisis over the death of Dr Maiwada Galadima, the kidnapped Agom Adara, in the hands of his captives.
    NAN

  • 2019: Why I’ll remain in PDP despite crisis – Ortom

    Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State on Friday said he is a committed member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

    The governor insisted that no amount of gang-up against him within and outside the PDP would make him defect to another party.

    There have been insinuations that the governor may defect from the PDP to the Social Democratic Party due to the unresolved disagreement between him and the leadership of the PDP over who controls the structure of the party in the state.

    Recall that the governor had on July 25 defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP.

    Speaking on behalf of the governor on Friday, his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, said talks between Ortom and other governorship aspirants within the PDP were still ongoing.

    He said, “As l speak with you, there is no such thought (of defecting) at all. The governor has joined the PDP, he was in the PDP before he left and he has said that he has come back home. So, there is no such thought at all.

    “Ortom is a true member of the PDP and is confident of flying the PDP flag in next year’s election. So, why should he think about leaving the PDP? There is no reason and no cause for such thought as I speak with you. l don’t have to comment about what any aspirant is saying because the PDP I know is a big family that makes decisions to accommodate all its members.

    “The party is still discussing and decisions have yet to be reached, but l know that any decision taken would not make Ortom to leave the PDP again.”

    The Publicity Secretary, SDP, Philip Awer, said the leaders of the party had been inundated with information about Ortom’s possible defection but noted that the governor had not contacted anyone in the party yet.

    Philip said, “We have been receiving calls from people who want to find out; I read it online but I can tell you with authority that the governor has not called anyone. So, to me, it is a lie.”

    Meanwhile, there are strong indications that the PDP in the state has been in a fix over the governorship ticket.

    This may not be unconnected with the cold war between the 12 governorship aspirants and Ortom.

    An insider source in the state confirmed that the 12 governorship aspirants had threatened to defect to another party in the event that Ortom was given preference over other aspirants during the primary election.

    “Assuming we all left the party the way he did in 2014, what would he have met on his return,” one of the aspirants, who did not want to be mentioned, said.

    The winner of the primary election in 2014, Mr. Tehemen Tarzoor, in an interview with our correspondent, also said any attempt to give preference to the governor would spell doom for the party.

     

  • Many injured, five killed as fresh crisis hits Taraba

    Many injured, five killed as fresh crisis hits Taraba

    Five people were allegedly reported to have lost their lives and many others injured following a clash between Fulani and Yandang communities in Lau Local Government Area of Taraba State.

    An eye witness, Mr Lukman Haruna told Punch that trouble started on Thursday evening when Yandang people on a traditional festival procession were attacked by some Fulani youths in Kunini town, in Lau LGA.

     

    Haruna revealed that the situation was brought under control, following the intervention of stakeholders in the community, but on Friday the situation escalated leading to the killing of five persons.

     

    Haruna said, “Some of the people who participated in the Wailawa Traditional Masquerade Festival initiation were returning home when some Fulani Muslim youths blocked them from passing close to a mosque in the town.

     

    “The situation was brought under control, but the following day, Yandang youths were attacked again at the same spot, leading to the unfortunate crisis which has killed at least five people, injured many others and houses burnt.”

     

    Taraba State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP. David Missal confirmed the development but said two people were killed and houses destroyed in the crisis.

     

    He said the Commissioner of Police in Taraba, Mr. David Akinremi, on receipt of the information about the crisis quickly deployed additional patrol teams in the area to complement the effort of the Divisional Police officer.

     

    “On arrival, a peace meeting involving community leaders from both sides of the ethnic groups in the area was called and while the meeting was about to start a gunshot was heard from the surrounding communities which heightened the tension in the area, but the police promptly brought the situation to normalcy.