‘Eight killed as communities clash over traditional title in Taraba

Eight persons have been reportedly killed during a communal clash between two ethnic groups in Karim Lamido LGA of Taraba state.

Abdullahi Usman, Taraba police spokesperson, confirmed the development to TheCable on Monday.

Usman said the clash between the Karimjo and Wurkum tribes started after the chief of the latter community died and his son was installed as the new traditional ruler.

TheCable understands that the clash occurred on the coronation day of the new chief of Karim Lamido community.

He said the new monarch from the Wurkum tribe was selected by Darius Ishaku, the governor of the state, alongside other traditional title holders to rule the community.

He said the Karimjo ethnic group started to protest the installation of a new ruler from the Wurkum tribe, arguing that they deserved the stool.

“Yes, it’s true. From the police records, we have gone there, we saw things ourselves, the corpses that we recovered were eight. Eight persons were killed officially. The clash started on Friday, Saturday and Sunday,” the police spokesperson said.

“What happened is that the chief of Karim Lamido happened to die, that is the Garkuwa died from the Warkum extraction. When he died, the government of Taraba state had thrown in his son who was given the chief of Karim.

“After he was installed, he was going to Karim to celebrate, people were coming for homage, then the Karimjos started blocking the roads and attacking the people saying they are seriously against the chieftaincy and that the government was supposed to have given the title to the Karimjo because the area where the chief’s house is located is within Karimjo area.

“They are calling on the Wurkum to remove that chief house from their area and relocate it to another village. That was where the issue started from and they went ahead and started burning the houses of the Wurkums which later led to a reprisal. So, that was how the clash started.”