14 arrested as fresh violence erupts in Taraba
Police in Taraba State on Thursday confirmed the arrest of 14 suspects following the eruption of violence in Ibi, the headquarters of Ibi Local Government Area of the state.
The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, Joseph Kwaji, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Jalingo that the problem emanated from what looked like a religious conflict.
Kwaji said it all started in the early hours of Thursday in the area which had been witnessing persistent conflicts in recent times.
Kwaji said reports reaching the police showed that trouble started at about 5am when groups of youths engaged each other in gun battles.
He said these had led to the destruction of property worth millions of Naira, with many of the youths sustaining severe injuries.
He said: “Apart from the arrest of the 14 youths, police have also recovered two AK 47 rifles and several other dangerous weapons from those arrested.
“But calm has been restored in the area after the deployment of a detachment of mobile policemen and the military to maintain the peace.”
Kwaji said investigation into the cause of the trouble and those behind it were ongoing, adding that those who have questions to answer among the arrested would be charged to court.
NAN reports that there was no official casualty figure as at the time of filing this report, even though Kwaji confirmed that many have been injured.
Ibi town has remained a trouble spot in Taraba State in recent times, behind Wukari, with both located in the Southern Senatorial District of the state.