The death toll in the clashes between some villagers and soldiers in three villages of Kadarko, Kurmi and Wadata in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State has risen to 39 as nine more bodies have been uncovered.
Soldiers, said to be on reprisal in over 40 trucks, were said to have stormed the villages on Saturday following reports of an alleged killing of four soldiers at Angwan Nanmi, Karin Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State.
The traditional ruler of Kadarko, Ponzhi Kadarko, Chief Lot Nde, told our correspondent on the telephone on Sunday that the death toll could still rise as soldiers, with armoured tanks, had pursued some villagers right inside the bush where many of them were shot and killed.
He said the entire villages had been razed.
The PUNCH had reported that about 30 people were killed, but Nde said 28 people were killed in Kadarko while 11 villagers lost their lives in Wadata.
The traditional ruler said the entire villages had been deserted, adding that he had fled since, according to him, he was target of the attack.
He explained that some women in his area told him that when the soldiers arrived at his house, they told them that they were told to kill the traditional ruler first.
He said his house was completely razed while all the economic trees in his compound were cut down, adding that he had taken refuge in the neighbouring Langtang.
The monarch said, “As I am talking to you now, all the villages have been deserted and I am taking refuge somewhere in Langtang.”
Spokesman for the Special Task Force, Capt Ikedichi Iweha, disputed the claim in some reports that more than 400 people had been killed.
He said it would be erroneous to believe that soldiers would turn round and start killing civilians.
Iweha said following frequent attacks on communities around the Plateau-Taraba border by some militiamen, the STF and soldiers from the 3 Armoured Division of the Nigerian Army had been carrying out operations to flush out the gunmen in the area.
He said in the process, there was a clash between some locals and some of the militiamen, stressing that mop up operation was still ongoing.
Iweha added that the number of casualties could not be determined until the operation was over.
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