Suspected herders on Tuesday defied the peace accord and ceasefire order by Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State and killed three farmers at Yangtu development area in the southern part of the state.
The governor had on Monday while receiving a report from the peace committee set up by his administration to get to the root causes of the persistent killings and destruction of properties between the Kutebs and Fulani herders from Ussa and Takum local government areas of the state announced a ceasefire between the two tribes.
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Both the Kuteb speaking tribe and the Fulani signed a peace accord at Taraba State Government House Jalingo in the presence of the governor on the same day, and the two warring tribes promised to adhere to the peace accord and the ceasefire as ordered by the governor.
The attackers sadly butchered and killed three Kuteb farmers in Yantu Special Development Area. The farmers who were macheted beyond recongnition were said to be on their way to their farm in the early hours of the day.
The state police public relations officer (DSP), Usman Abdullahi who confirmed the incident said a team of security operatives have been drafted to the area to ensure normalcy and to fish out the perpetrators.
Meanwhile, the coordinator, Yangtu special development area, Mr Emmanuel Madaki while speaking condemned the attack and confirmed that the victims were killed while on their way to farm.
Madaki named those who were killed as Mr Rimamskep Atenji, Mr Andekwab Yakubu Ashasim and Mr ElKannah Akyara, all of Kuteb tribe.
“It’s unfortunate that incidences of attacks are still happening on the Kuteb people when a peace accord between Fulani and Kuteb people is in place. Just yesterday, three of Kuteb youth, Mr Rimamskep Atenji, Mr Andekwab Yakubu Ashasim and Mr ElKannah Akyara were killed by armed men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.
“The innocent farmers were attacked and killed when they were going to farm in the morning,” the coordinator narrated.
He appealed to the governor and the security agencies to step up action to ensure total peace in the area, adding that the Kuteb were peace loving farmers and are determined to face their farming activities to complement the state government’s quest for food security and tackle the impending hunger because of fuel subsidy removal.