Taraba: Governor Kefas Imposes 24-Hour Curfew As Communal Clash Escalates; Group Condemns Crisis

By Akinwale Kasali

Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, has imposed a 24-hour curfew on the Karim Lamido Local Government Area of the State, following Saturday’s crisis between Karimjo and Wurkun people which has claimed the lives of several people.

The communal clash in the said area has left many  displaced, and several persons missing.

It was gathered that the crisis escalated over the weekend prompting the Taraba State Government to deploy more Security Agents.

A statement signed by Yusuf Sanda, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Kefas  directed all security agencies to ensure strict compliance with the order.

“Gov. Kefas has declared an immediate 24-hour curfew in Karim town and its environs effective from July 2.

“The curfew follows renewed communal conflicts in some parts of Karim Lamido LGA of the state.

“Security agencies have been mandated to ensure strict compliance and any person or group of persons found violating the order shall be dealt with in accordance with the law.

“All ward heads, village heads, traditional rulers, and stakeholders in Karim Lamido LGA are to take note of this development” the statement read in parts.

Confirming the crisis, the State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP  Usman Abdulahi said the violence started in the early hours of Saturday, stressing that lives were lost, but he couldn’t ascertain the number of casualties yet.

In his words, “In the last few days, there have been pockets of guerilla attacks between Karimjo and the Wurkun people in the area.”

He noted that the Command is on top of the situation, and that normalcy would soon return to the two communities and the Council at large.

However, a Group under the auspices of Wurkun Youth Ambassadors World Wide has condemned the violent clash between the Wurkun and Karimjo people of the Karim-Lamido local Government area of Taraba State.

The Group in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Seth Sule, appealed to Governor Kefas to deploy more security personnel to restore normalcy in the area.

Sule urged the warring factions to shun violence and embrace peace to attract development to the community.

He also called on the Government to collaborate with Security Agencies to deploy more security personnel to the communities and the council.

“No fewer than 3,000 people have been displaced while properties, farm crops, and animals worth millions of naira have been destroyed,” he said.