Tension has reportedly gripped residents of Takum town in Taraba State following the killing of Yakubu Njira, a former local government education secretary, by gunmen in the early hours of Saturday.
It was learnt that Takum is the hometown of Gen Theophilus Danjuma.
Residents alleged that houses belonging to Tiv in Kasuan Haske and Tortsee near Takum were burnt by irate Jukun youths in retaliation for the killing of their kinsman.
The Caretaker Chairman of Takum Local Government Council, Shiban Tikari, said in a telephone interview that Njira was killed on his farm by people suspected to be Tiv.
Shiban said the farm where Njira was killed had been a subject of dispute between Tiv and Jukun, with traditional rulers of both Tiv and Jukun intervening in the matter.
He said, “The traditional rulers sat over the matter to broker peace. But not satisfied, Tiv people in the area went to court to seek redress.
“I was told that those who went to court brought a letter to the late Njira withdrawing the case from the court, only for the man to be killed today on the same farmland.
“I have directed security agencies to stop any violent reaction and I can tell you that the situation is calm now. But some Tiv people have started leaving the town.”
