Fresh militia attack in Taraba leaves 17 dead as gunmen ambush returning IDPs at dawn.

A wave of grief has swept through Taraba State following a bloody Wednesday morning in Wukari Local Government Area. What began as a quiet dawn turned into a nightmare when heavily armed men stormed Tse Ajogo village.

The attack, launched around 6 a.m., specifically targeted Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). These families had only just started returning to their ancestral homes, hoping to pick up the pieces of their lives after months of exile.

Instead of a fresh start, they were met with bullets. By the time the dust settled, at least 17 people were confirmed dead. Eight others, battered and bleeding, were rushed to medical facilities with severe injuries.

The gunmen didn't just kill; they sought to wipe out the community’s foothold. Witnesses report that the attackers set fire to seven houses, burning them to the ground. In the panic, several villagers fled into the bush and are still unaccounted for.

Security analyst Zagazola Makama highlighted a disturbing pattern, noting this is the second time in two months that returnees in Tse Ajogo have been targeted. The coordination of the assault suggests a deliberate attempt to stop these families from resettling.

The village’s location makes it a soft target. Sitting just four kilometres from Rafin Kada, the area has a painful history of militia incursions that leave residents sleeping with one eye open.

Security forces have since swung into action. A manhunt is currently underway to track down the killers, with military patrols intensifying along the major roads to block any escape routes.

Meanwhile, local leaders are sending urgent warnings to residents, particularly those in Tiv settlements. They are urging everyone to stay at high alert and immediately report any strange faces or movements to the authorities before it is too late.