At least two persons lost their lives as ‘shortchanged’ Karinjo ethnic group in Taraba State abetted by mercenaries from neighbouring community razed five villages inhabited by Wurkun clans in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State.
The invasion, WikkiTimes learnt, followed the death of Karim Lamido Chief and continued government’s reluctance to cede the chieftaincy power to the Karinjos.
Confirming the incident to WikkiTimes, Abdullahi Usman, spokesman for Taraba Police Command, said the incident was a continued rivalry about leadership of the kingdom among the two groups.
The police spokesman confirmed the causalities and destruction caused by the violence, adding combined team of police and the soldiers are currently in the area to restore peace.
“It is a continued crisis, it has happened before,” Usman told WikkiTimes. “It started when the Chief of Karim-Lamido died and they enthroned his son, so the Karinjo tribe agitated that they should be given the chiefdom. They said the new chief must be from Karinjo.”
“In yesterday’s attack, two persons were killed and villages are still on fire but the commissioner of police has ordered for discrete investigation to ascertain the extent of damages”, said the police spokesman.
The renewed crisis, which began in the early hours of Saturday, led to arson in Garin Marwa, Sarkin Kudu, Sallamin Kala Yashi Pena and one other.
It would be recalled that at least 20 people were killed after a crisis erupted on May 12, when Alhaji Abubakar Haruna was presented with a staff of office to succeed his father who ruled for over 47 years.
