No fewer than three persons were killed while six others were injured as a result of an overnight attack on Maisamari town in Sardauna local government area of Taraba State.
The incident which occurred on Monday came a few days after about 24 people were killed in attacks on three communities at Lau local government area of Taraba State.
The latest attack was confirmed by the Taraba State Police Command on Monday.
The spokesman, David Misal, said the attack was carried out during a cultural event called Nding-Chin.
The cultural event was said to be taking place in the area for the first time.
Misal, who said the area was now calm, disclosed that the command had deployed additional police officers to beef up security.
The acting chairman of Sardauna local government council, Godwin Sol, told NAN that the administration had earlier banned all cultural meetings and festivals because of the security situation in the area.
Sol, however, said he was surprised to learn that a group, which mobilised its kinsmen from surrounding villages, held a dance event in Maisamari against the council’s order.
Read also: Father, brother in court over alleged rape of daughter
He said security operatives were later mobilised to disperse the gathering.
The spokesman said due to the size of the crowd, a time frame within which to complete the exercise and disperse was given.
Sol said at the expiration of the time frame, instead of leaving the town as agreed, the group relocated to the house of one Yaya Ahmadun to continue with the dance which continued into the night.
“It was while this was going on that some unknown gunmen attacked the place and killed three persons and injured six others,” Sol said.
He said the host of the event in Maisamari, as well as leaders of the cultural group, have been arrested.
The injured are receiving treatment at the Gembu General Hospital.
The latest incident is coming barely six months after a bloody attack on several communities in Sardauna local government area had left many dead while property worth millions of naira were destroyed.
On Monday, Darius Ishiaku, governor of Taraba State, joined governors of other affected states and some federal ministers and security chiefs to deliberate on the latest violence.