Police authorities have confirmed that 16 people were killed in Taraba chieftaincy tussle between Karimjo and Wurkum ethnic groups in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area of the state.
Spokesperson of the Taraba Police State command, SP Usman Abdullahi, confirmed Tuesday that 16 fatalities were recorded in the Taraba chieftaincy tussle, adding that normalcy had returned to the area.
He said the state police commissioner was in Karim-Lamido town to assess the situation.
Violence erupted in Karim-Lamido town headquarters of Karim-Lamido LGA when the new chief of Wurkum chiefdom who was presented with the staff of office by Governor Darius Ishaku five days ago entered the town with his entourage.
Karimjo ethnic group who claimed ownership of Karim-Lamido town protested against the installation of the new chief who is a Wurkum man.
The protest turned bloody leading to the killings of several people and burning of hundreds of houses, farm produce and other property worth millions of naira.
Similarly, thousands of people including women and children fled the area and are now taking refuge in Lau, Jalingo, Jen and Bambur towns.