Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo

Mr Daniel Adi, the Chairman of Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State has confirmed the death of two persons and the destruction of houses in an outbreak of the communal crisis in Kente area of the local government.

According to him, trouble started on Monday when some youths in Kente prevented some women from bringing goods to Kente market.

“One woman who defiled their order and brought yams to the market for sale was molested by the youth and the action which spark reprisal from Jukun youths who were against the action of the Tiv youths.

Adi said that collaborative efforts were ongoing with the security machinery in the neighboring Benue state to make sure that the situation did not escalate.

“I have since reached out to the chairman of Ukum local government in the neighbouring Benue State and the Security Adviser to the Benue State Governor and we are making efforts to stop the escalation of the crisis.

“I have visited the area where the crisis started with the chairman of Ukum local government in Benue and we have all agreed to talk to our people to give peace a chance,” he said.

An eyewitness, Jerry Luka, told our correspondent that trouble started in Kente village on Monday evening when youths from both ethnic groups clashed over a minor misunderstanding.

“The misunderstanding led to the killing of two people in Kente and this morning two Tiv people were killed around General Hospital in Wukari.

“The argument started over cultural heritage issues,  but there has been other accumulated issues between the two tribes which had festered for some time now,” he said.