Gunmen ambushed residents of Kofai Amadu in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State on Thursday afternoon, killing at least one person in what police say was an attack by Fulani militia.
The shooting erupted around 4:00 p.m. at the yam market, a busy trading hub where farmers, traders, and residents of different ethnic groups were going about their business. Gunfire suddenly rang out from a nearby bush, sending people scrambling in every direction. Farmers heading back from their fields, market traders, and other shoppers fled for cover as panic spread through the area.
As people scattered, armed men were spotted moving around a settlement about two kilometres from the market. When the shooting stopped and the chaos settled, community members found the body of a young man with gunshot wounds. They immediately alerted security forces, who arrived and began securing the scene.
Police spokesperson Victor Mshelizah confirmed the attack yesterday. He said the victims were residents who had gone to their homes in the area to collect belongings when armed men described as Fulani militia opened fire. One person was killed and later confirmed dead by a medical doctor, he said. The police have since brought the area under control, and things are now calm, according to Mshelizah.
Residents of Kofai Amadu are demanding action from security agencies. They want increased patrols and surveillance in the area and are calling for those responsible to be arrested and prosecuted. The community is waiting for more details from police as investigations continue.
