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The Governor of Taraba State, Dr Agbu Kefas has declared an immediate 24-hours curfew in Karim town, headquarters of Karim-lamido local government and its environs to forestall further killings in the area.
According to a statement from the Chief preess Secretary to the Governor, Yusuf Sanda, the curfew followed renewed communal conflicts between the Wurkum and Karimjo ethnic groups in some parts of the local government.
The statement added that Security Agencies have been mandated to ensure strict compliance and any person or group of persons found violating the order be dealt with in accordance with the law.
All ward heads, village heads, traditional rulers, and stakeholders in Karim Lamido LGA are also directed to ensure complete compliance.
Meanwhile the Taraba State Police Command on Sunday confirmed the fresh violence between the two ethnic groups.
The command public relations officer (DSP), Usman Abdulahi who confirmed the development said, the violence started in the early hours of Saturday when the Karimjo ethnic launched a heavy attack on the Wurkun ethnic.
The command’s spokesman said the number of casualties was yet to be ascertained but a joint security team of military and the police have been drafted to the area to forestall further breakdown of law and order.
Abdullahi told our correspondent that the fresh crises between the two ethnic groups started in form of “guerilla attacks on Saturday “.
“In the last few days, there have been pockets of guerilla attacks between Karimjo and the Wurkun people in the area. It has been either the Karimjos attack the Wurkuns and the Wurkuns attack in return or, the Wurkuns attack the Karimjos and they also attack in return before the Karimjos eventually launched a heavy one on the Wurkuns at around 3:am on Saturday”. He confirmed.
Our correspondent reports that the crisis between the two ethnic groups first started early April following the installation of a Wurkum as third class Chief of Karim town to replace his late father by the former Governor, Darius Ishaku.
It was gathered that the Karimjo ethnic group opposed the installation of the new chief which they claimed it was their turn.
It was gathered that over 7 persons have been killed while several others were injured since the renewed hostilities began on Saturday.