3 JTF Operatives Die, As Jigawa Records 1st Bomb Blast

Barely two  weeks after the signing of a peace agreement between community and religious leaders at the palace of the chairman, Taraba State Council of Chiefs, the Aku Uka, fresh crisis yesterday erupted in Kungana village in  Bali local government area of the state, leaving seven people dead.

A resident of the village, Mr James Gbaa, who spoke to LEADERSHIP  on phone, said   that the armed men identified as Fulani herdsmen, numbering over 29, invaded  the village at about 2am yesterday and engaged in shooting, leading to the death of seven persons.

Details of the cause of the crisis, which LEADERSHIP gathered spilled over from the crisis between the Tivs and Fulani herdsmen in Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau states, are not yet known.

Gbaa, who said he narrowly escaped the attack, also said two persons received machete cuts during the attack.

When contacted on phone, the  spokesman of the state police command, ASP Joseph Kwaji confirmed to LEADERSHIP that only five persons were killed by the attackers  in Kungana village in Bali Local LGA of the state.

He noted that the command had drafted more of its men to the affected area to arrest the ugly situation, while investigation continues.

Crises  had engulfed parts of Taraba for over two months, leading to the death of over 80 people and the destruction of properties.

Also contacted, the chairman of Bali LGA, Hon Andy Yerima told our correspondent on phone that he was in Abuja attending a seminar during the crisis in his local government, adding that he had made concerted efforts to alert security agencies.

2 Killed, Many Injured As PDP, APC Factions Clash In Kano

A clash between Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supporters and those of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Municipal and Gezawa local government areas of Kano State has claimed two lives.

Kano State Police Command public relations officer, ASP Magaji Musa Majiya confirmed the incident, adding that nine people were arrested in connection with the incident.

LEADERSHIP gathered that there were intensified campaigns by both parties to garner the support of the people  ahead of the local government election in Kano on May 17.

It was also gathered that there was a bloody clash at Kabara quarters in Municipal Kano between political thugs believed to be followers of the Kano Municipal chairmanship candidate under the APC platform, Alhaji Muntari Ishaq and those of PDP candidate, Alhaji Nasiru Uwe.

A similar clash had occurred at Kwagar town in Gezawa local government area which claimed one life.

The state APC vice chairman, Kano Central, Baffa Babba Danagundi noted that the cause of the clash appeared to be the perpetual acts of hooliganism as hooligans are now taking advantage of political rallies to unleash terror on citizens.

Baffa chided party leaders for their unguarded utterances which instigated the youths to cause mayhem.

The acting chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Yahaya Isa Bagobiri said the clash was as a result of the alleged injustice on the part of the state government.

Bagobiri admitted that there was a clash between their followers and those of APC at Gezawa, Municipal and Nassarawa local government areas which left many young people injured.

Roadside Bomb Kills 3 JTF Men In Jigawa

A roadside bomb on Monday  hit Military Joint Task Force vehicles, killing three officers while  six others sustained injuries at Gwani forest in Basiraka village, Gwaram local government area of Jigawa State.

The incident occurred in the  evening hours of Monday when the JTF comprising military men from different neighbouring states were entering the forest  suspected to be the hideout of gunmen, who few weeks ago attacked a police station and killed seven policemen in Gwaram local government headquarters.

The roadside bomb that exploded on the JTF vehicles  was suspected to have been planted by the criminals who turned the forest to their hideout.

Contacted, the state police commissioner, Mr Theophilus Kayode confirmed the incident through the public relations officer of the command, SP Abdul Jinjiri.