14 people were yesterday, feared dead after suspected militiamen attacked a community in Taraba State.

Residents said the attackers were from Benue State, suggesting it was part of the raging Tiv-Junkun violence. Community sources said the attackers entered Takum yesterday, and opened fire on residents, leaving dozens dead.

The death toll was still being determined by the Police and emergency officials as of Sunday night, but a member of the local vigilante group claimed 14 residents were killed.

About 20 militiamen were also reportedly gunned down after Takum residents pursued them into the bush to ward off the attack, the local, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added.

Taraba State Police Command spokesman said: “The attack occurred in the morning and security agents were deployed there. They have been combing the area to flush out any attacker, who may be hiding nearby.”

The police spokesperson said casualty and wounded figures would be determined after all threats in the area had been neutralised. The attackers were said to have slipped into Takum through the mountains of Angwan Abakwa and Wukari Road.Locals suspect the raid was a reprisal for the killing of a Catholic priest, David Tanko, in Kufai Ahmadu, near Takum, last week.

Tanko was on his way to a peace meeting in Takum when he was killed and his vehicle set ablaze in the August 29 attack the peace talk was scheduled as part of an ongoing dialogue to resolve the raging violence between Tiv and Junkun ethnic groups in Taraba State.

•Text (excluding amended headline) courtesy of Vanguard.

Update news